To who?
If the channels won't buy the pilot episode, they wouldn't want the footage. They would most probably just start a similar thing themselves and get their own footage.
I know your intentions are in the right place, but unfortunately this is the real world and there is not much space for "insects" that most people would squish without a second thought. Not everyone is quite as crazy as spider keepers are.

Anything by the BBC is always great. I especially recommend a series called The Life Collection narrated by non other than Sir David
I could not disagree more with the notion that the Big 5 are boring, I think it's a bit of an insult to African fauna. We take for granted the fact that we have these majestic creatures in our proverbial back yards. Also consider what they do for SA tourism, as I'm sure Cerat will agree- they do oodles for us.

Shane Visser wrote: Also, is your view on this not maybe a little skewed, because of the fact that you are in tourism. Consider the fact that most people who come to Africa are looking for a specific experience. An experience involving the Big 5. What about the multitudes who don't come here? Are they to be ignored?

If people were so interested in spiders across the world, don't you think we National Geographic would have caught on years ago and just be producing programs about spiders?
No offense, but I have spent time with hundreds of tourists who would much rather see Big 5 that spiders. Sure there was the occasional one that liked the smaller things (Which I use to always punt), but they are by far in the minority.
Unfortunately we are in the minority when it comes to our hobby.

Ceratogyrus wrote: To who?
If the channels won't buy the pilot episode, they wouldn't want the footage. They would most probably just start a similar thing themselves and get their own footage.
I know your intentions are in the right place, but unfortunately this is the real world and there is not much space for "insects" that most people would squish without a second thought. Not everyone is quite as crazy as spider keepers are.

LOL! I suppose I can't argue with you there, but it would be very interesting to know how many "normal" people would actually be interested in giving up some time to watch a loon chase big ass spiders in remote parts of the world. I'm willing to bet the demographic might be a little wider than you think.

Most of my friends think I'm crazy for keeping tarantulas, yet they are all fascinated, and all of them want to see what I have. It's probably not enough to sell an idea like this, and even if you were able to sucessfully pitch this, it would probably be dressed up to the point where people are more afraid of spiders, not less.

Getting back to my orginal post though, how do you feel about the current trend of blood and gore that seem to make up the mainstay of wildlife soapies?

Panama wrote: I could not disagree more with the notion that the Big 5 are boring, I think it's a bit of an insult to African fauna. We take for granted the fact that we have these majestic creatures in our proverbial back yards. Also consider what they do for SA tourism, as I'm sure Cerat will agree- they do oodles for us.

Very true.
It may be second nature to you to see a lion lying under a bush doing nothing, but the look on a tourists face when he sees a lion cannot be matched by seeing a spider 99% of the time.
I am responsible for going through feedback from international clients at the company I work for and seeing the Big 5 are a lifetime dream of most of the people.

Ceratogyrus wrote:

Shane Visser wrote: Also, is your view on this not maybe a little skewed, because of the fact that you are in tourism. Consider the fact that most people who come to Africa are looking for a specific experience. An experience involving the Big 5. What about the multitudes who don't come here? Are they to be ignored?

If people were so interested in spiders across the world, don't you think we National Geographic would have caught on years ago and just be producing programs about spiders?
No offense, but I have spent time with hundreds of tourists who would much rather see Big 5 that spiders. Sure there was the occasional one that liked the smaller things (Which I use to always punt), but they are by far in the minority.
Unfortunately we are in the minority when it comes to our hobby.

By that same logic, nothing new will ever be shown?

Being in a related industry, I'm willing to concede you probably have a better understanding of the topic. I do love a good debate though.