How to create, produce and air your reality television idea.

Word of the premiere of MotorSport Ranch pilot on INHD is spreading.

Mr. E from the Bimmerfest Forums wrote: "The facility sounds pretty cool, centered around a road course and populated by a bunch of rich ba$tard$ and their supercars."  He gave the dates and air times of the show and plugged the concept.  Thanks Mr. E!

MotorSport Ranch article in Black Enterprise Magazine

I was interviewed for the July edition of Black Enterprise Magazine (page 74).  They were interested in how we used social networking to help sell the MotorSport Ranch pilot to INHD.  I did the interview earlier this year and forgot about it until I started getting emails from B.E.M. readers.  Let me say, I was a little surprised that Black Enterprise Magazine would want to do an article about me.  Anyway, Ethan and I ran out to the book store this afternoon to check out a copy of the article.  I read the rest of the magazine - pretty good stuff - pick up a copy if you get a chance. 

Scott Ryan & Alexander Muse featured in Entrepreneur Magazine!

The July 2005 edition of Entrepreneur Magazine in an article titled Working the Net details how Scott Ryan and I used social networking websites to connect with people who might be able to help us create and air MotorSport Ranch.  Here is an excerpt from the article:

In addition to hastening introductions, virtual networks are leveling the field by replacing costly middlemen small businesses can ill afford. Alexander Muse, co-founder of Dallas-based Hive.media, a production company developing programming for the nascent high-definition TV market, realized this benefit when he was shopping his pilot to the networks. He found that reps wanted anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 upfront, plus 50 percent of the profits from the sale. "And all they'd really be doing is making introductions," says the 33-year-old executive producer.

Instead, Muse and his partner, Scott Ryan, 35, joined LinkedIn for free and found program directors at major cable networks and marketing folks at advertisers like BMW who have expressed interest in buying into the reality show, which follows three amateur car enthusiasts racing at 300-acre MotorSport Ranch. "It looks like those contacts will result in the sale of the program," Muse says.

Clearly, the value of online networks has grown along with their memberships. LinkedIn, for one, has been adding 60,000 new members a week, according to vice president of marketing and co-founder Konstantin Guericke.

Muse observes, however, that the growing pool could hurt entrepreneurs. "I think, over time, it's going to get less useful because there will be too many people connecting to too many people, so eventually, we're all connected," he says. Discriminating users, he adds, could help maintain the value.

Muse also points out, as do VCs, that virtual cocktail parties are not a replacement for face-to-face contact. "It's a neat tool you can use in conjunction with your networking," Muse says. "But if you never go to networking events and just sit in your house and play on LinkedIn, you're not going to get anywhere. You have to know people for it to have value."

INHD Air dates for MotorSport Ranch, Finally!

We received the air dates for the premiere of the MotorSport Ranch pilot on INHD:

July 2 - 11AM EST
July 2 - 8AM PST
July 2 - 7PM EST
July 2 - 4PM PST
July 3 - 3AM EST
July 3 - 12AM PST

Well, you have to start somewhere.  If you have Adelphia, Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, or Time Warner cable (HD option) you can tune into the program!  More information to follow.  If you don't get cable based HD you can always order the DVD on Amazon. 

Another (not final) version of the DVD coverart

Bob emailed the "much improved" coverart for the DVD.  Take a look:

Quick access to the MotorSport Ranch trailer and show opener. Take a look and feel free to share.

MotorSport Ranch Trailer and Show Opener RSS Feed: 

International Sales Activity on MotorSport Ranch

When we sold the domestic HD rights to INHD for MotorSport Ranch we kept the International HD and SD rights.  Bob is having some success with a new HD network based in Belgium called Euro1080.  Anouk van Hoogstadt asked for the screeners and indicated that we should be hearing from the network in a few weeks.  Bob met Anouk at the NATPE convention and talked to him about MotorSport Ranch and another program concerning Hot Air Balloons. 

MotorSport Ranch is a reality program about a country club for car enthusiasts.  Filmed in 1080i HDTV, the show will air on INHD in Summer 2005.  For more information contact Alexander Muse at 214.550.2003.

Update from Bob on MSR DVD

Yesterday afternoon I got an update from Bob on the DVD and coverart.  Basically we are still waiting for a final cover - he indicated that we should get it today.  According to our Amazon agreement we have to ship with seven days (i.e. the two DVDs we sold yesterday).  I am keeping my fingers crossed.  Oh and if you want to buy the DVD we have yet to ship visit AMAZON. 

MotorSport Ranch DVD now available on AMAZON

So I finally got the MotorSport Ranch DVD on AMAZON and we got our first two orders.  I put a call into Bob, hopefully we can ship within 7 days.  If you have seen the show go ahead and write a review on Amazon for us (oh and say good stuff).  Order HERE. 

MotorSport Ranch is a reality program about a country club for car enthusiasts.  Filmed in 1080i HDTV, the show will air on INHD in Summer 2005.  For more information contact Alexander Muse at 214.550.2003.

Meet the MotorSport Ranch director tonight!

Joe Dea, the director of the MotorSport Ranch television pilot, emailed me this afternoon.  He explained that the grunion (small silvery fish headed out of the ocean and onto the beach for mating) will be running tonight.  He will be on Venice Beach with his flashlight.  If you see him say hi!

MotorSport Ranch is a reality tv program about a country club for raceing enthusiasts.  Filmed 100% in 1080i HD, the show will air on INHD in late 2005.  For more information contact Alexander Muse at 214.550.2003.  For information on how you can get a BLOG for your business contact Weblogs Work.