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On RVing TV Show
Signed for Second Season

By Bob Zagami
Associate Editor

Paul LaZar, founder and host of the Outdoor Channels on RVing.   After selling his business, entrepreneur and RVer LaZar launched an outstanding television show for RVers.

Against all odds, Paul LaZar rose above the critics and doubters and launched the RV lifestyle television show On RVing about 18 months ago.

As an active RVer and boater all his life, LaZar looked for a new challenge when he sold his successful computer business.

He had the idea. He needed to prove the concept: and that turned out to be more difficult than he first expected when preparing his business plan.

The idea was for an RV show that would appeal to active RVers and entice new prospects to learn more about the RV lifestyle.

LaZar remembers,"The RV market was ready for television, and we proved it with a very successful first season. We were recently signed for our second season and our concept has been validated by the introduction of yet another RV series that is just being launched. We are now the longest running RV TV show on the United States airwaves today."

LaZar was sure that his idea would work. After all, RVIA themselves is spending $13 million dollars a year as part of the Go RVing campaign to send the same message to the same audience -- the people who are watching television.

Paul adds, "We have all proven that television is an excellent advertising medium for RV related businesses. We are pleased that we could lead the way for others to follow. We got a few scars for our efforts, but it was worth everything we had to endure to gain the proof of concept." How does somebody who is not a TV person launch a successful RV television series? Once you get past courage and confidence you better figure out real quick how to put a show together and what should be in each episode.

Through his family's active experiences, they met and befriended the Taintors, a couple from New Bern, NC. As LaZar was discussing his dream with Karen Taintor, he was delighted to learn that her husband Ron was an award-winning videographer. It wasn't long before Ron Taintor was Paul's partner in the new venture.

They made a pilot almost two years ago and set out to find a network that was willing to put the show on the air. Although it was a very hard sell, they signed a contract with The Outdoor Channel (TOC).

LaZar said, "We are delighted to be on the Outdoor Channel. This is the same audience that the RV industry is seeking with their television exposure. Statistical information from TOC indicates that 65% of their viewers have made a purchase after seeing something advertised on The Outdoor Channel. About 24% of the viewers plan to purchase an RV and 29% already own an RV.

"The Channel's demographics are where we want to be as an industry; 68% of the viewers are 25-54 years of age and have a household income in excess of $50,000."

"Our show is on three times each week. We do thirteen original shoots and then repeat them, followed by thirteen more originals followed by their repeats. That means we are on TV every week, and 156 showings each year."

"The return on investment for our sponsors is significant. We also put links to the sponsor's web sites on our www.onrving.com site, which is referenced several times during the show. We are able to measure the site activity and response and it peaks right after every show. Visitors  will go right through to the sponsor that they have just seen on the television show."

We know the system works and so do our sponsors."

Each On RVing show is formatted into sections. There will always be a travel section that is visited, shot and documented by Paul and Ron. The revised "In-The-Galley" segment now features Janet Groene. Janet is and accomplished writer and holds the Distinguished Achievement in RV Journalism Award. Janet demonstrates easy meals that can be prepared with the most basic of pantry ingredients. There is a tech section with valuable information for keeping your RV in top condition. Some shows will include a factory tour and others may feature new products for the RVer.

As this is going to press, LaZar announced that "News of Interest to RVers" will now be sponsored by RV America Online®. This new agreement between the two companies is expected to bring news of the show to the millions of people who visit www.rvamerica.com each year and generate many new viewers for the television show.

The informative programming is helping sponsors build brand recognition to veteran RVers and newcomers who tune into the show each week.

LaZar says,"We are taking nothing for granted. We've made it past the first hurdle and are really looking forward to our second season. We will continue to listen to our viewers and sponsors and give them what they ask for."

"We are having fun, and that's why we launched this project in the first place. RVing is fun, and we get to do it for a living. You can't beat that."

Then he was off again, driving down the highway heading for his next destination. Catch him on TV and see where he goes next.

If you run into Paul along the way, stop and chat with him and the On RVing road crew. They love it now that people actually recognize them when they stop to shoot on location. Heck, we might just make this guy famous someday and we'll all be able to say, --- we knew him when!