The Caravanning News| The Caravan Channel

This was the website for the Caravanning News out of England. Below is content from the 2010 Blog posts by Chris Gosling, the producer of The Caravan Channel shows. Happy caravanning.

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My grandparents were huge caravanning fans spending their retirement years traveling all over Great Britain. I used to visit them for during my vacation or as they would say during my summer holiday. As a youngster, my sister and I really loved traveling with them. It seem so exciting and exotic traveling from place to place in their colorful caravan. My idea of a holiday is quite different now that I am an adult. For instance, my girlfriend and I are spending four weeks in two different Maui rentals. This is more than just a vacation. It's also a celebration of my reaching my goal to stop the destructive downward spiral of I was on with my out of control drinking. I could have become the poster child for AUD. Instead, with the incredible program I found online, I have totally changed my relationship with alcohol. Instead of the demanding, abstinance only treatment approach of AA and many other rehab programs, the anti craving medication-backed online program helped me reach my goals which were to drink moderately. Now, I know, according to their website, some folks stop drinking completely while following this program. But I really enjoy the occasional beer and certainly wine with dinner. With the help of the anti craving drug Baclofen, the steady presence of my support guide, the encouragement to set my own goals and move at my own pace, plus the support of my girlfriend, I now choose when and how much I drink instead of the mindless consumption that I had started to indulge in several years ago. What a difference. SO here we are in beautiful Maui.

We are spending two weeks in a ocean view condo in the upscale resort of Kapalua, well known for its fabulous golf courses which are nothing short of breathtaking. We plan to play golf every day on their championship courses, snorkel in the delightfully warm waters and eat gourmet meals at a variety of restaurants including Mama's Fish House. We will spend our second two weeks in Hana. The Hana Highway (Hwy. 36) is a wiggle of a road that runs along Maui's northeastern shore. We have been told that the drive will take us all day if we stop numerous times to admire the spectacular views that include taro patches, magnificent seascapes, waterfall pools, botanical gardens, and verdant rainforests. Our day long drive will end at one of Hawaii's most beautiful tropical places, Hana where we plan to stay at a lovely rental. This is definitely not the way my grandparents traveled, but I think they would have loved Maui.

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The Caravan Channel - All About Us

History

The Caravan Channel first started life as a video website in early 2006, featuring a few travel and destination clips, and didn't grow very much until around August.

But in September, producer Chris Gosling put together a 30 minute programme pilot, which he showed to some broadcasters - and Information TV's Fred J Perkins decided to broadcast it on an experimental basis.

During the autumn of 2006, producer and presenter Chris Gosling produced and Information TV broadcast a further 3 programmes, gradually refining and improving the content and style of the shows, and listening to viewers.

In 2007, the Channel has gone from strength to strength, with 8 new programmes being aired - one every fortnight. Each show is broadcast for a fortnight before being replace by the new one - one Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6pm and on Sundays at 12.30pm.

Advertising

As a unique combination of TV show and website, the Caravan Channel offers advertisers some unique and exciting prospects. For instance, TV advertising is usually regarded as a generic medium - where you catch a few interested viewers from the crowd. However, we only aim to interest the already interested, so our audiences are much more likely to be in the marketplace for everything from new caravans and motor homes, to parts and accessories.

Online, our packages are sensibly priced and often include an element of "free sample" TV advertising, so you can assess results and judge the value.

Although our TV programmes go out to tens of thousands of viewers, our costs are much lower than comparable magazine advertising . . .

Businesses & Organisations in Caravan, Motorhome & Camping related businesses are invited to send their press releases and information to this email address: ~~production@caravanchannel.co.uk~~

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2010 BLOG POSTS by Chris Gosling

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A refreshing change!

From the end of this years production schedule, that's programme 107 of the Caravan Channel, premiering on 15th December 2010, I'll no longer be responsible for the production and editorial direction of the UK's only broadcast TV caravan and motorhome programme, The Caravan Channel on Information TV.

After 4½ years, and 107 shows, I think its time to pass this hugely successful show on into new hands, and I'd like to thank all of the brilliant people in the industry and associated businesses who've helped me to make a unique programme which has inspired some people, helped many more, and maybe opened some eyes to reality.

I'm delighted to say that the programme's broadcaster, Information TV, is already assembling a team who I believe will continue to build on The Caravan Channel's existing success, and will see it grow from strength to strength. They'll also be introducing new blood and new talent into the mix, and continuing to work closely with both the industry and campers/caravanners and motorhome owners to take the programme to new heights.

In addition, Information TV is of course a much bigger company, with much bigger budgets and capabilities. Developing a brand new programme concept from scratch is fine for a one-man band like me, but taking it on to a whole new level of success and influence demands a much more structured, disciplined and professional approach.

On a personal note, let me say very clearly that this change is a result of my choice. I've been looking for some time for a new production company to take over the programme, essentially because producing a new programme every two weeks is continuous hard work for a one man band, and that's not what I want to do!

The Caravan Channel's email addresses - editorial@caravanchannel.co.uk and production@caravanchannel.co.uk are still your points of contact.

This doesn't mean that I personally will be fading away completely, of course. I'll still be doing some freelance work, and making some other programmes in other areas of interest.

You'll still be able to contact me at chris@chrisgosling.co.uk and I'll have a website online at www.chrisgosling.co.uk

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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Now that's a long times between posts!

In terms of putting posts on The Caravan Channel's editor's blog, I do tend to be fairly remiss . . the pressure of producing a fortnightly TV show makes me less keen to do other things to a schedule, even though I know I should!

But this time, I must say I've got a lot better excuse.

Since my last entry, things have been changing apace in both personal and business terms, and I'm delighted to say that i think it's all really rather good - although some aspects may be a bit worrying for a time!

At present, I can't make a full revelation, but as soon as I can, I will. Til then . . watch this space!

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Saturday, October 09, 2010

Living in the past?

One of the things that sometimes rings my bells is the number of misconceptions that people in general have about TV today.

That ringtone gets loudest the moment someone says "constructive criticism" . . like an email I had the other day.

This gentleman decided to share his expertise with us all:

I believe you have the makings of a first class product that can attract a very good audience but you have to first get a professional presenter and not someone who appears to make the programme just as a way to supplement his pension.

The makings of a first class programme? With over 100 shows now broadcast over 4 years, one every 2 weeks, and showing to an estimated audience of 180,000 viewers per edition, The Caravan Channel is certainly one of the biggest, if not simply the biggest, niche show on satellite TV. It has an income that surprises me, and employs a couple of people quite a lot of the time.

I am sure the presenter knows what he is talking about but firstly he is not very photogenic and secondly his voice makes everything seem so boring.

The reason it's presented by me is two-fold - first, because when it started, there was no money to pay anyone (even me!), and secondly because I happen to be very much against the cult of "celebrity" that seems to pervade mainstream TV today. I've always tried to make programmes where the content carries the show, and that's what I'll continue to make . .

I have gone back to caravanning after 20 years of using hotels and it is great to see the new models, the new accessories and the sites which I find informative although the sound quality is similar to that of a 1940’s B movie, so while I would like to see many improvements I am very fond of the channel just please consider upgrading it into the 21st century.

All this chap is saying that he doesn't like me as a presenter, and bluntly that worries me not a jot - it just annoys me that (a) he isn't sufficiently aware of satellite budget restraints that make hiring a "presenter" impossible, and that (b) he doesn't comprehend the simple fact that I acknowledge that not everyone who likes caravanning, motorhomes or camping is going to like either me, the show, or it's style.

In today's hugely diverse TV spectrum, there's a surprising absence of variety and individuality, and all this fellow seems to want is a celeb presenter, and a flashier style . . and content created by TV hacks who do a workaday job with not much enthusiasm, and with no interest in the topic - the tired old recipe as before.

I'm sorry if what we show is different . . perhaps he'd be best off watching 100th-time repeats of "Caravan Sights" and "The Caravan Show", last made in 2003, on terrestrial broadcast budgets, five times the size of ours!

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Back on track

We've definitely had an odd time, but I hope that things are now back on track.

Next week, I'll be working on getting our Caravan & Motorhome 2010 presence sorted our properly, and with a bit of luck will have everything resolved in time!

Doing the stand at a majopr show like this is a big effort however, and I reckon we'll be pretty extended doing it - but we'' do our best as ever, although one specific factor has to change.

However, all being well, we'll be there on stand 19 -36, and looking forward to seeing you!

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Monday, September 13, 2010

Caught up in the big wheels . . .

I seem to have had a very odd summer this year . . .

We rather set the tone early in August, when Dot came down with some rather nasty tummy trouble, which seems to have gone on and on - but at least now the medics have started to deal with it and I hope she'll start to feel better soon.

Later in the month, had a very unhappy (and still ongoing) bit of dealings with the mighty Ofcom, who it seems are now required to deal with online video services, and their contractor in this area decided they wanted The Caravan Channel to notify them as a possible service provider . . . at an annual cost of an astounding £2,900 "registration fee" for the first year.

This looks like an amazing bit of possibly "catch-all" regulation, that could do lots of harm to the UK's TV and video production business.

Here are the qualification:

(a)its principal purpose is the provision of programmes the form and content of which are comparable to the form and content of programmes normally included in television programme services;

(b)access to it is on-demand;

(c)there is a person who has editorial responsibility for it;

(d)it is made available by that person for use by members of the public; and

(e)that person is under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom for the purposes of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

Now is that a catch-all, or not?

Reading it from my viewpoint, it looks as if any of the hundreds of YouTube video-makers who make small, but often well-made and "TV-programme-like" clips could get caught up in this set of regualtions - but I don't think that this is the intention of either the UK or the European governments, it is the effect of sheer disinterest from the regulatiors, Ofcom, who look as if they've ignored smaller operators.

Essentially, these regulations come from a European desire to regulate the programmes that broadcasters put online, designed to ensure that they follow the same basic rules online that they follow on broadcast. For most broadcasters, this isn't a problem anyway. and registering for it at a cost of a few thousand pounds is neither here or there - they can spread the cost of over tha hundreds and thousands of hours of video they have online, and it doesn't amount to anything much.

However, they seem to have completely ignored small businesses in their calculations - for instance, they claim to have "consulted widely" in the spring and early summer of 2010, but bluntly, I for one never heard of this - and I suspect that like most very small businesses, I have my nose too close to the grindstone to have noticed this kind of thing.

So where am I at the moment?

Fighting!

I produce two little programmes, and may produce a third later this year. I only put short clips online at present, which I don't believe qualify, but would like to put longer clips or whole shows online for people who don't have satellite. Does this mean that with a turnover that isn't much more than the national average wage, I have to pay the same rate as the BBC for an tiny service?

Both Ofcom and their contractor ATVOD seem to be saying that they can't make allowances for size, yet the explanations of the original law seems to say something different:

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA SERVICES REGULATIONS 2010

2010 No. 419

11. Regulating small business

11.1 The legislation applies to small business. It is anticipated that few small businesses which employ fewer than 20 people will be providing services which satisfy the definition of an ondemand programme service and fall within the scope of the regulatory system, although some small start-up businesses may be affected. However, the Government expects that the fees payable to the regulatory authorities by businesses providing on-demand programme services will be set in such a way as to minimise any potential adverse impacts on small businesses.

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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Just an example . . .!

Lots of people tell me what a wonderful time I must have, but I though this week I'd illustrate an example of how this job goes!

It isn't a moan - it's just an explanation!

One Sunday, at about 3.30 (after the Grand prix, which Dotty watched, and I worked through) we set off for sunny Humberside - we reached our little Travelodge hideyhole just after 7 o'clock, and settled down for the evening after having a nice chat with the reception girl, who we sympathised with for having a nasty bite on her ankle.

Set off to travel the 20 minute ride to Swift, stopping off for brekkie at a MacD's -journey took nearer 40 mins, but we still had brekkie and arrived by 9.30ish.

Chat, briefed on new products, of we went. Stopped for lunch at 1, back to work by 1.30. Quit about 4.30 (run out of creative juice!).

Went hunting something I wanted to film for another project, failed to find it, quit!

Got to pub we like about 6.30 for a very nice early dinner, very enjoyable, then back to the hotel.

Tues - up at 7, eating brekkie by 9, shooting by 9.30. Finish around 12.30, meandered to Goole, where we did a little filming on a interesting topic we tripped over - essentially for one of Giles programme threads, however.

Home by around 8pm - time to catch up on the email while video is running into the computer - watch it with half an eye.

Bed by about 10.30 (that's about now).

Up sensibly early to drive to Stealth tomorrow . .

I love it!

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Sunday, July 25, 2010

A small hiatus . . . that's not a hernia!A long time ago, someone asked me something something about my blogging style - the only answer I could give then (and now) is intermittent!

In fact, I think it all depends on what time there is in that odd concept, the working week! And when you're a tiny little business like mine (now with added Giles, I'm glad to say), producing a total of 3 hours of brand-new TV in a month, plus and additional 3 hours of reformated to order TV, there isn't that much time!

However, just to update you . . we've not been out in the little Finesse since bringing it home from Hull on our last visit as we have been waiting for our little car to be fixed. But we should be towing again by the middle of the week - hope so, as we're supposed to be out in it next weekend!

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