WE are so excited to announce that if all goes according to plan the LIVE safaris from Djuma will be back on WildEarth at 06h30 (CAT) on 17th August 2011.
Tara, Marc and Sebastien will be presenting, directing and operating the camera on the Ganda and will be doing so under the auspices of Djuma Game Reserve. As most of you know Safari Television was no longer able to afford to continue running the LIVE safaris in the way that they had and was forced to stop broadcasting. Djuma very kindly, and very courageously, stepped up and has agreed to cover the costs of operating these safaris for 3 months, in order to give us all an opportunity to make them viable.
What does that mean, ‘make them viable’? Well simply put it means that WE need to work together to increase the viewership of the safaris and the Djuma Waterhole Cam to the point that the Internet advertising served on these streams produces at least enough revenue to cover the operating costs of the safaris and the waterhole. The good news is that it is much cheaper for Djuma to operate this broadcast than Safari Television because they own the land and have an existing lodge, which means some of the costs are reduced or removed. However, we would still need to about double the current viewership.
WE need your help to promote these cams, and are excited that so many people have said that they will help. Over the past few weeks WE have received many many ideas and suggestions and we have been having numerous internal discussions figuring out how best to proceed. Talking to Jurie at Djuma we have narrowed down a few key things that we think can make the difference and substantially increase the viewership of this amazing broadcast. They are: (a) embedding the cams in as many high traffic sites as possible, (b) running several Google Adwords campaigns, (c) getting as much press coverage as possible, (d) encouraging you to sell T-shirts and curios (where you keep all the money) but that promote Djuma and WildEarth, (e) providing branded buttons and banners to sites to promote the cams, (f) getting the streams into as many schools as possible and (g) as much social media campaigning as possible.
After the incredible success of the zoomie volunteer community (more than 40 volunteers) that control the Pete’s Pond and Djuma Waterhole cameras, we have decided to build a new promotion community based on the same Yahoo group system. I will be putting out a new Blog on the weekend that will both explain each of the various promotional ideas in much more detail as well as explain how you can volunteer to be a part of the teams that will tackle each approach.
The first stage is get everybody that wants to be a part of this drive to make the safaris sustainable into the group, and organise exactly what we are going to do and how. WE don’t want this to become an uncoordinated affair where the wrong messages are communicated or where we are all working at cross purposes to each other. So please make sure that you do volunteer and join up with everyone else and work together in teams. Also, we must make sure that we don’t start promoting before the safaris are actually back on air. There is no point in driving traffic to a player where there is no broadcast. We are aiming for the 17th August, but there are some things that are not in our direct control (e.g. the radio network from Djuma to Hoedspruit) that has to be finalised before then. So lets get everybody (that volunteers) into the group, make sure we all understand everything and be ready to leap into action the minute the safaris start up again. More info in a few days …
Thanks for all your ideas and emails of support. You truly are a very special community of viewers and I am sure that together WE can make these safaris successful enough that they will be broadcasting on WildEarth from Djuma for many years to come.
-Graham
Smiling from ear to ear! I await my orders, Captain!
Maureen
Thank you Graham that is great news, I be there in antisipation.
Doris Charles
Thank you Graham that is great news, I be there in antisipation.
Doris Charles
So very Happy to Hear all that … if there is anything I can do please let me know…. I do have some friends in the broadcasting business and my brother owns a store so I can sale lots of the shirts and stuff through him easlily ….. but anyway I'm willing to do all I can to keep this going because it is worth it
(1) Getting Justin TV back would easily double the number of present viewers. Please pursue that.
(2) Djuma Game Reserve should have a Cafe' Press store in the U.S. as well as the UK. I really LOVE my Saseka and Blondie navy WildEarth shirts, and my WildEarth shirt with Pieter's picture of Wonky and Lieschen; and I use my Karula notecards all the time – all were purchased from the WildEarth Cafe' Press store which has not added any new merchandise in some time. If Djuma has their own store, they get to keep the profits from it, which would help to cover the costs as well. Perhaps Tara would be willing to contribute some of her pictures to be used for Djuma merchandise.
Really exciting news Graham and my wife and I have bared our arms ready for action. I hope that three months is enough time to make a difference. We have a goal and a deadline which will focus our efforts. What a privilege!
I'd really like to think the service can carry on for those times when I need a slice of Africa.
While you can watch clips on YouTube, there's some very thrilling about knowing that what you're watching is live.
I am so very, very, VERY happy and am eagerly awaiting the return of the drives and our awesome team! I will do whatever I can to help with the promotion of the site!
This is indeed wonderful news! Thanks for letting us know so much already. I hope to be able to contribute toward the success of the Djuma drives.
One thing that has always concerned me is the timing of the drives, esp. the morning one. Has anyone considered options to the times?
Just a thought. Looking forward to seeing everyone again.
– LostGirl (Debbie)
Wow , I am new to this, but this sounds very cool ! Cant Wait !
So happy to hear this news! August through November promises to be a peak workload time for me, but I will try to help in some way!
This is brilliant Thank you Graham – will be looking forward to the drives and prepared to help with the promotion of the drives in New Zealand in speading the word to keep it up and going!
Count me in too. I can wait to get started to get a whole bunch of new fans for our wonderful safaris, which really seem to be the internet's best kept secret.
Count me in too. Can't wait to get started and get lots of new fans for our wonderful safari drives.
Very happy to have the safari back again. I would like to join. Thank you Graham and Djuma!
We are so happy the drives are coming back! We enjoy them so much and will do what we can to bring in more viewers.
Very happy here. Smiling from ear to ear.
I await further orders, Captain! LOL
Maureen
Great news Graham! Looking forward to hearing the plans….I do hope JTV is being considered. If the drives were advertised on the front page, there would be LOTS of viewers.
Thank you Graham and Djuma! I will do whatever I can to help promote these wonderful drives. Count me in with the hundreds of others willing to help.
Graham, I would do anything to help keep the safaris going and to educate the schools on this wonderful and rare opportunity to learn about the African Bush. We all knew that we were going to put our thinking caps on to continue these magnificent drives so I am glad you didnt sugar coat the truth. I am excited about our friends returning and thrilled that I can help you all with what ever it takes to keep it going and growing!
Lori in Georgia
"The Decorah" eaglets had over 185 millions viewers, I don't know why it wouldn't work in this case.
I wrote to the LA Time (Christopher Reynolds of the travel section) to ask for help and spread the word.
I know "Pondies" will come to the rescue too.
That's great news, Graham. Looking forward to the drives & to helping Djuma promote them.
Great will join new group so we the world can make this work
great will wait an join group to help this succeed
I think it would have been lovely to have had Djuma announce the return of the drive. It would have been great to have the happy news separate for the revenue enhancement portion. Certainly a better marketing plan. Yea! Djuma!
This is great news Graham. Now will anxiously wait for the new group set up, so we can get started.
A Happy fruitlesspuppy here