Dick Idol™ Discoveries Tv Series Debuts On Outdoor Life Network

Furniture World Magazine

Outdoor lifestyle personality Dick Idol and licensing company Dick Idol Ventures, LLC, are launching the Dick Idol(tm) Discoveries television show on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) for the twenty-six weeks from April 3rd through September 2004. The series will air on Saturdays at 1:30pm EST and again on Wednesdays at 5:30pm EST. Idol, the Montana-based outdoorsman and artist whose growing brand enterprise includes the Dick Idol(tm) Collection of home furnishings and accessories, will host the series with support from David and June Sparks. The show will focus on a variety of outdoor lifestyle topics, each helping viewers "discover" the beauty and spirit of nature and outdoor adventure. The show is designed to bring Idol's passion for nature, antiquities, art, and unique destinations into the homes of middle class families with children who love the outdoors and participate in diverse activities from hiking, boating, camping, and wildlife observation to hunting and fishing. The leader in adventure TV, OLN (www.OLNTV.com) offers more outdoor-oriented programming than any other network. The fast-growing 24-hour cable network is expected to reach more than 65 million households in 2004. OLN is the leading source for television coverage of outdoor adventure sports and outdoor leisure recreation, covering events and subjects as diverse as professional bull riding, the Tour de France and international alpine skiing. "I've felt like there has been something missing in outdoor-oriented programming for a long time," said Idol. "Viewers want more than another hunting and fishing show. Our show will target the entire family by focusing more on the outdoor lifestyle - how to live it and enjoy it - both in and out of the home." Idol has teamed with veteran outdoor television producer Wayne Pearson of WP Productions, Inc. (WPP) to create the show. Pearson brings more than 21 years of experience in outdoor-oriented television to the Dick Idol(tm) project including two top-rated outdoor shows on ESPN2, "Dodge Outfitters Almanac" and "Ultimate Outdoors With Wayne Pearson." Klaussner Furniture Industries, a Dick Idol(tm) licensee producing case goods and upholstery, has committed to be the title sponsor of the show, and Jim Barna Log Homes has also come on board as a key sponsor. The Dick Idol(tm) series will be the first of its kind for the outdoor industry. The show will draw upon Idol's personal experiences and wide-ranging expertise in outdoor-related subjects, including adventure travel, recreation, photography and wildlife observation at destinations "off the beaten path." The series will also feature outdoor-oriented segments on home décor, art, collecting, history, and some of the fascinating people who inhabit the world of Dick Idol. The show's real goal is to help viewers discover the outdoor lifestyle and bring it into their homes and everyday lives. A former wilderness guide and outdoor journalist, Idol is now considered one of North America's premier wildlife artists. His monumental bronze sculptures have been commissioned for private and commercial applications worldwide. In 2001 he launched the Dick Idol(tm) Home Collection, an outdoor-inspired furniture and household accessories line that has established Idol as an original American lifestyle innovator. More than 1,000 retailers in North America and overseas currently carry Dick Idol(tm) products, with many new product category additions including a complete bed and bath line, apparel, and footwear slated for 2004 and beyond. When he's not at his home and studio in Bigfork, Montana, Idol travels extensively, making retail appearances, speaking at conferences and searching for sources of inspiration for his artwork, product collections and TV show. For more information about Dick Idol Ventures, LLC, contact Jim Williams at (336) 812-8080 or visit www.dickidol.com. (Dick Idol(tm) is a trademark of Dick Idol Ventures, LLC.)