What is Delaware Valley Outdoors
History
IN THE BEGINNING…
Delaware Valley Outdoors was created in June 1994 when Michael Haney an independent video producer (now the Executive Producer of DVO) noticed that the fishing shows that he loved to watch were never done in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area, or even anywhere in the Northeastern states. He decided to produce a local version of the show that he liked to watch on the other networks.
THE SEARCH FOR THE HOST BEGINS…
;)
Mike Haney, Executive Producer of DVOHaney know that the show could only be successful if it was hosted by someone that could connect with the viewers and be a "regular" guy... the type of guy that you would like as your fishing buddy. As Haney started to spread the news about his decision to start a fishing show, he began to get requests from everyone who every caught a fish to be the host. Everyone remarked how great it would be. "WOW get paid to fish, where do I go to sign up?" was the phrase most heard during those first few weeks. Haney posted a message on a bulletin board (CompuServe) simply stating- "Would you like to host your own fishing show on TV". Hundreds of people responded by email with most saying that they where the greatest angler that every lived. Reading between the lines, Haney didn’t want someone with an ego and an attitude, telling the viewers that he a great angler and watch me fish.
Bob Murray and Producer Mike Haney on a Drum Fishing ShowThen someone emailed him saying that he wasn’t interested in hosting a TV show himself, but he just took a fishing seminar with a guy at Bucks County Community College, and that he thought would be great for the show. He said that the instructor made him feel comfortable and he admitted to the seminar attendees that: "I’m not the greatest fisherman in the world, I’ll admit that. And I’m not going to tell you to go to the third rock next to that old tree and your catch a fish every time you cast in there. What I am going to tell you is how you can read the water so you can find your own spots without me". After hearing this Haney made a phone call to the seminar instructor Bob Murray.
THE FIRST MEETING…
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Bob Murray, Host of DVOAfter a brief phone conversation, Murray invited Haney to ride along with him on a weekday afternoon fishing trip on the Delaware River for Smallmouth Bass. After wiring Murray with a wireless microphone the two set out to videotape some footage and get to know each other. After two hours without a bite Murray became anxious to catch some fish for the camera. Forgetting that he was wired with a wireless microphone and Haney could hear over the headphones a softly whispered prayer: "Oh please fish, please bite".
Haney could only smile at what must have been a frustrating moment that every "Average Angler" has experienced and he know at that moment that he had found his host. After another hour, just as the light began to fade, one small bass bit and was captured on tape. Haney couldn’t wait to get the tape back to the studio to see what it looked like. Even though there was no giant fish caught that day. all of the elements were there, and the Bob's attitude was worth giving it a try for real. A week later the two met at 5am at Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park, and would tape what would become the pilot episode of DVO.
10 hours on the water and only three fish caught (again a typical day for the average angler) the pilot episode was shot. With six hours of raw footage the two headed into what would become a 10-hour editing session. Tired but excited about the final outcome the two began to search for a place to broadcast it.
After 17 years DVO producer add two new host.
Steve Horvath - Bio Coming
John Hawthorne - Bio Coming
Chronology
1994/First Year – DVO went on the air in August 1994 and was still learning all it took to produce the show. The original concept including two parts fishing and one part travel log. This format was quickly changed to all fishing after the third show.
1995 – The first full season and our learning curve was just kicking in. We began to develop a short hand between host and producer. The show begins to have a loyal following of viewers. People pick-up on the concept that these are places that they themselves fish. The Cable Company gets positive feedback from viewers. We begin to replace our low-end broadcast video equipment with higher quality equipment and the look of the show dramatically increases.
1996 – We start are own Internet web page to increases the awareness of the show, and the site becomes very popular with anglers with an average of 400,000 hits for that first year. Bob Murray is routinely recognized in public and people express their love for the show and appreciate that it’s local.
Bob is signed to indorse several products and becomes a design consultant for fishing products.
1997 – The show increases it’s airings and includes several other cable companies in the area begin airing the show. Sponsors actively seek sponsorship of the show. Advertisers report that their advertisements bring in more customers to their place of business.
1998 – DVO begin to edit the show on a state of the art computer based editing system called a Media 100, which increases the production quality of the program. DVO routinely hear from viewers that the show looks as good as anything on TV.
1999 – Bob Murray’s seminars are attended by 300+ people and are standing room only. Viewers continue to email us show suggestions and are amazed that we are so assessable to them and their needs.
2000 – The show continues to grow and we begin to air on Comcast Cable, the region's largest cable providers. The website continues to grow with new features. We begin a weekly radio show on WDRV 89.7 FM. We begin a DVO Fishing Team with several semi-pro anglers.
2001 – Executive Producer Michael Haney takes over the website and update reports and articles more frequently.
2002 – DelawareVallyOutdoors.com adds 16 freelance writers to our website and begin to have webpage’s on a verity of fishing topics.
2003 – Podcasting and streaming video begins to take off and DVO leads the way with online audio and video content.
2004 – Major website redesign with streamline writing article layouts and more video and audio playlist of free content.
2005 – DVO Radio ends their radio show association with WDVR and take the audio to DelawareVallyOutdoors.com website and podcast.
2006 – DVO executives create a new website for audio called the Outdoor Radio Network.
2007 – DVO pushes forward putting all video programming on YouTube and Blip.tv
2008 - Late 2008 Comcast suffering from a poor economy cancels all local programming and DVO moves to full time broadcasting on the Internet at DelawareVallyOutdoors.com.
2009 – DVO online video and audio continue to grow. BigBassUniversity.com is developed into a real learning annex of DelawareVallyOutdoors.com Producer of DVO digitized all programs and post on YouTube, Blip.tv and Vimio media sites.
2010 - The long running, award winning Delaware Valley Outdoors will begin airing in Philadelphia in the nations 4th largest television market starting in December 2009. Delaware Valley Outdoors will start their 16th season on TV with 3 million new TV’s in this popular urban market. Philadelphia anglers will have to play catch-up with nearby counties who have come to enjoy seeing the best fishing in the tri-state area. DVO also starts airing on Radnor Studio 21 which is the Radnor Township public access television station, airing on Comcast and Verizon cable channel 21. We start to LIVE stream video reports from the water using cell phones.
2011 - We stream 40 hours of live video from the 2011 Philadelphia Outdoor Show in Oaks's PA as well as record 41 interviews. We augment our TV shows and web articles with Quick Response Codes. Quick Response Codes or QR Codes, are digital barcodes that can be read instantly by QR Readers on smart phones. QR Codes provide the easiest way to navigate from the physical world to the mobile web. June 2011 two new host join DVO on air staff. Steve Horvath and John Hawthorne both bring unique skills to the program; Steve a 30-year veteran of saltwater fishing and John who is a avid freshwater angler and hunter. Big Bass University Produced 4 new fishing DVD's.
2012 - Second year Live video streaming form the Oaks's Outdoor Show, Big Bass University introduces 4 new video DVD titles at the Oak's Outdoor Show, 3 Fishing and our first Hunting. BigBassUniversity.com begins adding free online Fishing & Hunting Seminars Online.