Outdoor Channel will premiere a travel and outdoor adventure show this summer featuring award-winning country music artist Nick Hoffman called Nick’s Wild Ride.  The half-hour, 13-episode series will debut July 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Hoffman is a former member of Kenny Chesney’s band and currently is a member of the country music trio The Farm. He has also performed with music superstars Sara Evans, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, John Mellencamp, Trace Adkins, Steve Miller, James Otto, and more.

Produced by Watermarc Productions and Ugly Duckling Entertainment, Nick's Wild Ride follows the Nowthen, Minn., native and Nashville transplant as he explores the music, food, culture, history and heartbeat of each stop he makes along his journey.

The first episode takes Hoffman to Louisiana, where he learns from locals how to make hot sauce. He then travels the Mississippi River and hits the swamps to hunt turkey and catch crawfish. In other episodes Hoffman hunts waterfowl in Nebraska, checks out the best microbreweries in Denver, travels to the Argentine Republic capital of Buenos Aires and hunts javelina in Mexico.

The series is part of Outdoor Channel’s Friday night “country” programming roster, which includes the return of new episodes of Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors, Nick’s Wild Ride, and a slate of classic and modern western cinema blockbusters.

Outdoor Sportsman Group will go hunting for subscribers next month when it launches its new fee-based digital app.

The “Outdoor Sportsman Group’s My Outdoor TV” app will offer hundreds of hours of library programming from the company’s three cable networks, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network, Outdoor Sportsman Group president and CEO Jim Liberatore said. The service will be available on Android and Apple iOS devices for $9.99 a month.

NOT AN OTT SERVICE

While the app is not an over-the-top service — it will not offer live feeds of the three services — Liberatore said it was created to reach hardcore outdoor purists who do not have access to the channels and to appeal to existing fans who want an expanded experience with the networks.

Distribution remains a challenge for the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment-owned networks. The group said Outdoor Channel has 40 million subscribers, Sportsman Channel 32 million and WFN 5 million. But Liberatore said offering a true OTT service isn’t the answer to that dilemma.

“That is something that we would only do in cooperation with the cable operators and satellite providers,” he said. “We aren’t in a position to be tweaking anybody, and this property that we’re developing actually does help them sell their product.

“We want to create this wonderland for people who are avid in the space,” he added. “What drives this is our hope to increase exposure to our linear network. What we would love people to do is take some of this library programming and then go back and watch the shows.”

Among the app’s highlights is a feature that allows users to search by any hunting activity and find all the shows about that activity across all three networks. The app also will feature wild game and fish recipes from such shows as Sportsman Channel’s The Sporting Chef With Scott Leysath.

“You can type in ‘Oklahoma whitetail,’ and every show that we have in our library that features Oklahoma whitetail hunting will pop up,” Liberatore said. “The hope is that those interested in the topic will say, ‘I never knew about this guy or this show’ and will watch more of the linear feed to see the shows that they weren’t aware of.”

Liberatore would not project how many subscribers the app will draw. “We realize, at $10, we will not have millions of people buying this,” he said. “We’re hoping that, working with our partners, we will be able to create something for them that will make both of us more valuable.”

REVENUE FOR MORE ORIGINALS

Revenue generated from the subscription app will be used to help develop more original programming. He added that the app will serve as a marketing tool for both Outdoor Sportsman Group and its distributors to showcase the services.

“You almost look at this as a huge marketing play for the linear network,” he said. “Our linear business is our backbone, heart and soul, and we aren’t trying to build a separate business to deviate from that. We’re trying to build a business that grows that, and what we’re putting together could be a great model that consumers like and [that] introduces [them] to our network that will have a lot of benefits for our distributors.”

Outdoor Channel tonight (Monday, March 7) premieres the first of four new episodes of PINKS: All Out, the amateur drag-race competition series that aired for several years (and more than 100 episodes) on Speed Channel before Fox Sports converted the network to FS1 in 2013.

The new PINKS: All Out will air at 8:30 p.m. on four consecutive Mondays, Outdoor said. The theory is the same core audience that watches hunting shows will respond to a program about people who like to fix up and race their own cars.

It’s part of the same bid to win new viewers that led Outdoor’s owners to buy rights to the first six seasons of Duck Dynasty, the A&E reality series that starts, with season two, on Outdoor Channel tonight (7 p.m.).

After series host Rich Christensen obtained the rights to PINKS: All Out, the predecessor series PINKS and another drag-race series, Pass Time, from Fox, he secured a berth on Outdoor Channel for new P:AO episodes in talks with Jim Liberatore, the former Speed president who is now CEO of Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks.

Christenson and executive producer Brian Bossone produced the four new episodes during a week of racing at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina last July, Bossone told Multichannel News.

Bossone and Mitch Petrie, vice president of programming at Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks, said if the four episodes perform well, the series might get a full return on Outdoor Channel.

Nearly 500 drivers and cars competed at Rockingham, despite rainy conditions, and generated some fine TV, according to Bossone.

He said racetracks are eager for the show to be revived and fans have responded enthusiastically since word got out several months ago that P:AO was coming back.

Donald Trump is racking up endorsements from reality TV stars heading into the Iowa Caucuses, with Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson giving his nod to the Republican presidential candidate just days after Amazing America with Sarah Palin host and former Vice Presidential candidate Sara Palin added her name to his supporters.

During an appearance at the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel’s Outdoor Sportsman Awards in Las Vegas, part of the  Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) and Conference – Robertson announced his support for the GOP frontrunner.

Trump also was a guest at the 16th Annual Outdoor Sportsman Awards. 

“He’s not afraid to tell it like it is,” said Robertson. “He’s a friend of the Second Amendment…the man I’m standing behind to be the next President of the United States – Donald Trump.”

Robertson and his family started their television careers on Outdoor Channel with their Duck Commander and Buck Commander shows. Since then, the family has found wild television success on A&E with Duck Dynasty, which recently began airing Seasons 1-6 in syndication on Outdoor Channel (Mondays at 7 p.m. ET). Willie Robertson continues to commandeer Buck Commander on Outdoor Channel.

SPECIAL REPORT: SPORTS BEYOND THE MAINSTREAM
Getting Into the Game | UFC Punches Up 'Fight Pass' | NASCAR Maintains Solid Track Record

Masculine adventure programming is getting a little less macho.

The genre, named for the he-man pursuits of hunting, fishing and gunplay, has been a staple of outdoor lifestyle networks for years, largely characterized by shows like Sportsman Channel’s Aporkalypse, guest-starring uber-man’s man Ted Nugent wielding automatic weapons to shoot pigs from helicopters.

While those shows aren’t going away anytime soon, they are sharing the schedule more and more with shows that are not only hosted by women — like Sportsman Channel’s Destination Whitetail with Maxim cover girl Brittany Glaze and The Most Wanted List with three women at the helm — but also increasingly emphasize themes that cater to the new audience.

MAJOR ECONOMIC FORCE

Driving the change is the fact that women are becoming a major economic force in the outdoor game. The number of women hunters in the U.S. rose 85% between 2001 and 2013, from 1.8 million to 3.3 million, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In addition, about 19% of all hunters in 2013 were women, almost double the 10% in 2001.

Perhaps more importantly, women constitute a growing economic force when it comes to firearm purchases. Firearm retailers estimated that 20% of their 2013 shooting- and hunting-related sales were attributed to women, up from 15% in 2010, the NSSF said.

Women historically have comprised about 25% of the audience for pay TV’s three largest outdoor lifestyle networks — Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network, all owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s Outdoor Sportsman Group — noted networks CEO Jim Liberatore. While they’ve always been an important part of the mix, he added, it was only in the past few years that more outdoor shows began to reflect that.

“We are actively looking at an overall strategy to explain the lifestyle to people,” Liberatore said. “We think that will attract both men and women.”

“A lot of girls are raised going out hunting with dad and obviously grow up to be women interested in this space,” Liberatore added. “To me, we can attract women by telling the story of the lifestyle. We understand that compelling programming is first and the story it tells is second.”

Protection is the No. 1 reason why most women purchase firearms, according to the NSSF. At the Outdoor Sportsman Group, the goal is to show that owning a weapon also can be fun.

“Those are the things we want to try get our arms around,” Liberatore said. “The rest of the story is conservation, environmental, game management.”

That is reflected in several shows across all three networks. For example, Outdoor Channel has Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures, featuring noted conservationist, hunter and wildlife photographer Jim Shockey and his daughter Eva Shockey, Under Armour and Cabela's brand ambassador; CRUSH With Lee & Tiffany, featuring husband-and-wife hunting team Lee and Tiffany Lakosky; Driven With Pat and Nicole, starring married hunters Pat and Nicole Reeve; and NRA All Access, starring sharpshooter Jessie Duff.

On Sportsman Channel, which is geared more toward instructional shows, in addition to Destination Whitetail and The Most Wanted List (hosted by American Idol top 10 finalist Kristi Lee Cook, Jessi Jo Lee Stanfill and Jess Hull) there is Winchester Deadly Passion, hosted by Melissa Bachmann. Even the World Fishing Network has gotten in on the act, with Hookin’ Up With Mariko Izumi, a travel and fishing series hosted by the daughter of professional angler Wayne Izumi and niece of Bob Izumi, host of long-running Canadian fishing show Real Fishing.

Liberatore added that the strategy is not to simply air shows that replace male hunters with female hunters. But, he said, using lessons learned from non-hunting shows like Jim Shockey’s Uncharted, in which the noted conservationist explores the edges of the known world; Guntucky, a reality series about a family-owned gun range, from the producers of Pawn Stars, and movies on the networks, they can produce programming that will appeal to a different audience.

“We’ll be promoting shows that we think they’ll be more interested in and that takes them more into the lifestyle.”

To that aim, Outdoor is looking to add some scripted shows — and at least one theatrical/made-for-TV movie — centered on themes more compelling to women.

“We understand that the way to be mainstream is to create programming that the mainstream audience wants to see,” Liberatore said. “There are 130 million people in our space, that’s more than golf and tennis combined. It’s not like we feel the space isn’t enough to sustain what we’re doing, but we certainly want to grow and expose people to the lifestyle and the channel.”

Liberatore gave few details, but he added the scripted series is a drama with a female lead with outdoor lifestyle themes. The movies, he added will weave in conservation and hunting themes through broader plots.

The shift is also resonating with advertisers. The new Outdoor Sportsman Group entity declined to give details on advertising growth, but said the networks have been “enthusiastically received” and that it has “many new advertisers.”

The bulk of the Outdoor group’s ad revenue comes from endemic sources, equipment and gear makers that have products directly related to the shows they advertise on.

While endemic advertisers and sponsors have long been associated with women hosts like Eva Shockey (Under Armour, Cabela's), nonendemic sources like carmakers and insurance companies are also beginning to see the benefits of getting their message out to those audiences. Liberatore said about 40% of the group’s advertising comes from nonendemic sources.

GETTING BROADER FOR GROWTH

“As we grow, we can’t live inside the endemic space,” Liberatore said. “It goes up and down as the business goes up and down. We’re intentionally trying to reach out to different brands.”

That doesn’t mean outdoor-focused advertisers aren’t participating in the growing trends. Realtree, a maker of outdoor apparel, has been an advertiser with Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel for several years, said in a statement that its participation has been based on “realizing the importance of family to the continuation of our outdoor heritage.”

Realtree spokesman Dodd Clifton said in the statement: “The dramatic increase in the participation of women in the outdoors in recent years can be attributed to several things: great work by conservation and sporting groups to teach and encourage women, manufacturers and retailers offering gear that’s better suited to women’s needs, the movement to get kids off the couch and into the great outdoors, and the efforts of media brands, such as Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel, to show women and families just how enjoyable getting outdoors can be.”

Outdoor Channel, a division of the Outdoor Sportsman Group, has reached a long-term carriage renewal agreement with Dish Network. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Outdoor was purchased by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment in 2013. The network offers a steady stream of content dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle including Guntucky, Buckmasters and Jim Shockey’s: Uncharted.

“As a result of this new, long-term carriage deal, Dish customers who passionately love the outdoors have greater access to Outdoor Channel programs on television,” said Outdoor Sportsman Group—Networks CEO Jim Liberatore in a statement. “With the acquisitions made over the past two years, our highest priority was, and remains, developing compelling, interesting and exciting programming that appeals to the 130 million Americans in the outdoor lifestyle space. This partnership allows us to stay focused on that goal.”

Outdoor Channel is available in more than 40 million homes across the country. Outdoor Sportsman Group is part of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and includes the Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network.

KSE Media Ventures said Tuesday that it has acquired the remaining interest it didn’t already own in World Fishing Network, the cable channel devoted to all things fishing.

World Fishing Network will become part of KSE’s Outdoor Sportsman Group – Networks, which was created after it acquired the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel. World Fishing Network had been jointly owned by KSE Media Ventures and Insight Sports, a Toronto, Canada sports group, since January 2011. KSE’s partnership in the Canadian World Fishing Network remains unchanged.

“The integration of World Fishing Network’s U.S. operations into Outdoor Sportsman Group – Networks is a natural fit that adds to our unrivaled roster of offerings in the outdoor lifestyle space,” said KSE Media Ventures CEO Matt Hutchings in a statement. “We’re committed to growing the network in the U.S. and continuing to work with our partners to maximize the network’s positon in the Canadian marketplace.”

Inclusive of Outdoor Sportsman Group – Integrated Media, comprised of 15 market-leading outdoor magazines and 17 top websites, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s television, digital and publication properties represent the largest multimedia portfolio focused on the outdoor lifestyle, reaching about 130 million outdoor enthusiasts across the country.

 “World Fishing Network has made great strides over the past 18 months to establish the brand as an industry leader, from programming to its digital presence,” said Outdoor Sportsman Group – Networks CEO Jim Liberatore said in a statement. “The network serves a passionate audience of millions of anglers and outdoor enthusiasts throughout North America. The diversity of Outdoor Sportsman Group’s content and delivery platforms will better position us to service our audience moving forward.”

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has formed KSE Outdoor Group to hold its burgeoning outdoor assets – including cable channels Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network – tapping Outdoor Channel president Jim Liberatore to lead its network properties.

Liberatore, who joined Kroenke shortly after its acquisition of the Outdoor Channel, will add oversight of the Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network. The company’s outdoor publishing and digital media assets will be looked after by president and CEO Jeff Paro, served in the same role when those properties were part of InterMedia Outdoors.

“These appointments solidify our leadership team and ensure we have strong senior executives at the helm of our industry-leading content and distribution assets in this vibrant market,” KSE president and CEO Jim Martin said in a statement. “Jim and Jeff are passionate voices for the outdoor enthusiast industry and they are committed to strategically investing in our portfolio; increasing our distribution, circulation and, unique views; and expanding the range of experiences we deliver to our diverse and growing audience base. We look forward to maximizing the enormous potential of our portfolio and providing our business partners, advertisers and distributors with an unprecedented platform reaching millions of hunters, anglers and outdoor adventure seekers.”

KSE purchased Outdoor Channel in 2013 and in November it acquired InterMedia Outdoors, which owned the Sportsman Channel and hunting and fishing publications like Guns & Ammo, Petersen’s Bowhunting and Florida Sportsman and 17 top websites, including BassFan.com.

As a result of the latest restructuring, Gavin Harvey, Sportsman Channel CEO since 2010, has stepped down. Harvey was pivotal in growing Sportsman Channel, increasing its distribution, expanding its program offerings and developing its key relationships across the industry.

“There’s a tremendous level of energy and purpose across our organization,” Liberatore said in a statement. “We’ve brought together the industry’s leading multichannel assets under the KSE Outdoor Group umbrella, which has created opportunities to share ideas and better utilize our resources, while strengthening our ability to deliver more diverse and engaging content choices for our viewers. This is an exciting time at KSE Outdoor Group and I look forward to delivering on the promise our networks hold in entertaining, inspiring and informing our audiences, and accepting our newfound responsibility as a powerful voice for the industry.”

Liberatore and Paro will report directly to Matt Hutchings, executive vice president and COO of KSE and president of KSE Media Ventures.

“We couldn’t be more excited about joining the KSE Outdoor Group family,” Paro said in a statement. “This is the culmination of a long and dedicated journey by our team to be part of a truly committed multimedia enterprise. Looking ahead, we have never been better equipped to continue our mission to entertain, inform and inspire our consumers in all media across all platforms, and creatively package this engagement for our advertisers, sponsors and business partners. As a member of the KSE Outdoor Group family, our future is exceptional now that we have the financial commitment and resources to build on our success and take our publishing and digital assets to the next level.”

The Outdoor Channel, fresh off its parent company’s agreement to purchase rival Sportsman Channel in November, has unveiled its Winter/Spring lineup, with three new shows joining more than 60 returning series.

New series The Reluctant Outdoorsman, Flying Wild Alaska and Major League Fishing GEICO Selects will join returning fan favorites like Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild, Jim Shockey ‘s Hunting Adventures and  Gridiron Outdoors with Mike Pawlawski.

“This season represents several firsts for Outdoor Channel as we continue to broaden our core programming base to meet the diverse interests of the dedicated enthusiasts that recognize us as a premiere destination for unparalleled outdoor entertainment,” said Outdoor Channel executive vice president of programming Jeffrey Wayne in a statement. “From outdoor-themed and Western feature films to the antics of The Reluctant Outdoorsman, we’re incredibly proud of the strength of our latest schedule as it spotlights raw competition, suspenseful journeys and heart-pounding adventures, as well as gripping storytelling and unscripted comedy.”

Here are the three new series set to debut beginning Dec. 29:

• The Reluctant Outdoorsman [Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET] pits a clumsy, apprehensive suburban man against some of the most intense outdoor challenges imaginable. Watch as Outdoor Channel stars Michael Waddell, Chris Brackett and Hal Shaffer, take couch potato Derek on series of grueling and intense adventures. From crossbow hunting for feral hogs and noodling for fish to bull riding and hunting alligators, this reality-based show is sure to offer outdoor pros some comedic enjoyment and inspire other beginners to follow suite.

• Major League Fishing GEICO Selects [Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET]. This hour-long show features 24 new Major League Fishing anglers competing for one of six additional spots in the corresponding MLF Cup event and offers an even more in-depth look at the anglers in the heat of the competition.

• Flying Wild Alaska[Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. The show, wchih formerly aired on the Discovery Channel,  follows the unconventional Tweto family that rules Alaska’s most dangerous skies through the operation of their family-run airline, Era Alaska. Watch as they battle unforgiving Alaska weather and terrain to transport life's necessities, such as champion snow dogs and medicine for sick children, to the isolated rural inhabitants of the Bering Sea coastline.

Among the network’s returning shows with new episodes is fishing series “Buccaneers & Bones” [Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. ET], this season featuring late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, actor/comedian Jim Belushi and musician Huey Lewis alongside original cast members Lefty Kreh, Yvon Chouinard, Tom McGuane and Bill Klyn and narrated by Tom Brokaw. For more angling entertainment, catch commercial fishing reality show “Bottom Feeders” [Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET] and tune in to special episodes of “Spanish Fly” [Mondays-Fridays at 8:30 a.m. ET] in honor of the late Jose Wejebe, the Florida Keys-based fishing legend. As for the hunting genre, check out Michael Waddell, Travis “T-Bone” Turner and Nick Mundt on “Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector” [Sundays 10:30 p.m. ET], “Wardens” [Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. ET], “Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine” [Fridays at 6:30 p.m. ET] and “The Best Defense” [Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET]. In the sport shooting category, “NRA Gun Gurus Presented by Henry” [Wednesdays at 11:00 p.m. ET], featuring Jim Supica and Phil Schreier, delves into the fascinating history of firearms and “Shooting Gallery” [Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET], with network veteran Michael Bane, tackles guns, personal safety, and shooting.

Additional fan favorites, some of which are returning with new episodes, include:

§     Ted Nugent in Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild [Tuesdays 8:30 p.m. ET];

§     Jim and Eva Shockey in Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures [Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET] and Jim in Jim Shockey’s UNCHARTED [Sunday at 3:00 a.m. ET];

§     Lee and Tiffany Lakosky in Crush with Lee & Tiffany [Sundays 7:30 p.m. ET];

§     Matt and Jessie Duff in NRA All Access presented by Taurus [Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET];

§     Mike Pawlawski in Gridiron Outdoors with Mike Pawlawski [Sundays at 6:00 p.m. ET];

§     Pat and Nicole Reeve in Driven with Pat and Nicole [Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET];

§     Mark Zona in Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show [Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET];

§     Jim Burnworth in Western Extreme[Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. ET];

§     Andy Morgan, Chad Ritter and Gerald Swindle in The Hit List Presented by Moultrie [Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET];

§     And Don and Kandi Kisky in Whitetail Freaks [Mondays at 7:30 p.m. ET].

The network will also be showcasing a number of classic and modern-day outdoor-themed and Western movies, representing the first time that Outdoor Channel has aired feature length films. Among the movies that will air each Friday beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET are: “High Plaines Drifter,” directed by and starring western legend Clint Eastwood; the critically acclaimed “127 Hours,” featuring James Franco; “Iron Will” starring Kevin Spacey; and Academy Award winner “A River Runs Through It,” directed by Robert Redford and starring Brad Pitt.

The channel’s full programming schedule is available here.

About 18 months after they battled for control of Outdoor Channel, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has agreed to acquire Intermedia Outdoors Holdings, from InterMedia Partners VII, the private equity fund controlled by cable veteran Leo J. Hindery Jr., which includes TV network the Sportsman Channel, 15 outdoor magazines, 17 websites and television production operations. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Kroenke Sports, controlled by Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of the St. Louis Rams, had battled InterMedia for several months in 2013 for control of Outdoor Channel. After several competing offers for the channel, Kroenke won the prize in May 2013.

KSE said in a statement that Outdoor Channel, which air such shows at Buck Commander (pictured), and Sportsman Channel will continue to operate as separate networks.

“This is a highly complementary transaction that solidifies our leadership in the outdoor genre and strengthens our ability to serve our passionate and growing audience with a diverse range of content choices,” said KSE CEO Jim Martin in a statement. “We have the highest quality programming, the top brands and the broadest distribution in the outdoor industry, all under the KSE umbrella. We are committed to further investing in these assets, increasing our distribution and expanding the range of content experiences we deliver. We welcome the former InterMedia Outdoors team to the KSE family and look forward to working together to grow this vibrant category and build on our success.”

As the 2014-15 hunting season begins, Outdoor Channel has announced the annual 'Gear Up and Go!' Sweepstakes, offering daily prizes as well as the grand prize.

The campaign runs throughout October and viewers are encouraged to participate on the website, through social media and on-air TV spots. The special prizes will then be offered through the microsite.

Some of the prizes this year, include hunting and adventure gear by brands like Easton, Irish Setter and Yeti, as well as viewing gear, rifle scopes, bows, GPS products and more.

The Ultimate Hunting Gear Giveaway is valued at $17,000 with a 2015 Polaris SxS Ranger ETX, a Yeti hunting package and a Badlands 220 backpack.

The campaign is launched to encourage outdoors enthusiasts, as well as excite new viewers. Providers with a combined count of some 60 million subscribers are participating in the promotion.

To learn more, click here.

Outdoor Channel will premiere 90 fall shows, including two new series, Fight to Survive and The Gunfather, and five well-known series with brand-new episodes, starting Sept 29.

The new shows will star returning favorites, including Joe Mantegna, Willie Robertson, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Jim Shockey, Mark and Terry Drury, Jim Thome, Gary LeVox, Shawn Michaels, Ted Nugent, Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, and Michael Waddell and more.

Fight to Survive captures the lives of those who struggled to stay alive in the most near-death situations. Host Craig DeMartino discusses his personal survival story tribulations in the series, to air Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

The Gunfather follows Louie Tuminaro and family throughout the country in his hopes of owning the best gun store in the West. The new fall series of a once New Yorker turned Montana gun shop owner premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m ET.

“We’re thrilled to introduce two new series to the network – one starring Craig DeMartino that chronicles truly inspiring tales of human strength and the other featuring gun shop owner Louie Tuminaro who drives a hard bargain. These two men might come from different backgrounds but they both possess a charismatic and dynamic character that is sure to be embraced by our viewers, said Executive Vice President of Programming at Outdoor Channel, Jeffrey Wayne.

Returning stars include those from a variety of categories, including Hollywood, MLB, country music, WWE, hunting, archery, firearms and conservation.

The Fall Programming Slate Includes:

-Joe Mantegna in “Gun Stories” [Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. ET]

-Willie Robertson, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Ryan Langerhans, Tom “Tombo” Martin and Adam LaRoche in “Buck Commander” [Saturdays 5:30 p.m. ET]

-Ted Nugent in “Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild” [Tuesdays 8:30 p.m. ET]

-Jim Shockey in “Jim Shockey’s UNCHARTED” [Fridays at 7:30 p.m. ET]

-Mark, Terry, Matt and Taylor Drury, Jim Thome and Gary LeVox “Drury’s THIRTEEN” [Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET]

-Lee and Tiffany Lakosky in “Crush with Lee & Tiffany” [Sundays 7:30 p.m. ET]

-Michael Waddell, Travis “T-Bone” Turner and Nick Mundt in “Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector” [Sundays 10:30 p.m. ET]

-Shawn Michaels and Keith Mark in “Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures” [Tuesdays 11:30 p.m. ET]

-Craig Morgan in “Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors” [Sundays 11:00 p.m. ET]

-Jason Carter, Kip Fulks, Koby Fulks and Bryan Offutt in “Ridge Reaper” [Mondays 9:00 p.m. ET]

-Matt and Jessie Duff in “NRA All Access presented by Taurus” [Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. ET]

-Chris Brackett in “Fear No Evil” [Fridays at 9:00 p.m. ET]

To learn more about the programming schedule, click here.

Dish subscribers will get a chance to see more Outdoor Channel fare, as the satellite provider is offering a free preview of the network during September.

Outdoor Channel, which is currently available to subscribers of the No. 2 DBS player via the America’s Top 250, America’s Everything, Smart Pack and Outdoor Sports Pack, can be accessed by any Dish customer on channel 396 from Sept 4 through Sept. 30. Moreover, top programming from the network will also be showcased at the Blockbuster Studio Channel 102.

Those who do click through will be able to espy action-packed adventures from some of the globe's most beautiful vistas. Among the shows on tap during September, Jim Shockey's Unchartered, which takes viewers to remote and dangerous destinations around the globe with the avid outdoorsman; Bottom Feeders, tracking the struggles of teams of commercial fisherman as they battle Mother Nature, and each other, to bring in “the big haul” and put food on the family table; and Warderns Presented by Streamlight, offering an inside look at the men and women on the front lines of America’s conservation efforts.

The network will also serve up a sneak peak of the Reluctant Outdoorsman, which is set to make its linear premiere in January. The all-new reality series follows the journey of a middle-aged couch potato with no experience in the outdoors, as he is challenged by friends and colleagues to take on life-changing outdoor adventures.

To further entice viewing and ultimately a subscription to the service, Dish and Outdoor Channel are giving away a VIP trip to Las Vegas to attend Outdoor Channel’s 15th Annual Golden Moose Awards being held at the Venetian theater during the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show). Viewers can enter here for a chance to win a trip for two to the GMAs, the country’s leading outdoor television awards ceremony, or one of five first prize packs including a camo backpack and $50 to Bass Pro Shop