The connection between NatGeo and the Discovery Channel, IMO, is that neither does a very good job accurately portraying us as hobby rocketeers. I don't know about the rest of you, but my dreams of rocket flight are far closer to that of the Carmack Prize winning flight and not that of flying 400lbs of gasoline powered garbage.
If we exclude Discovery Channel in this message, it says to them, "hey we must be doing something right." Last I checked, there was a LOT of people who didn't even want Discovery Channel at our launches any more. (at least not a clear majority in favor of it) Odd rocks are fun and different, but that's not what hobby rocketry is
all about, and there is no
real contest except for the silly ones we make up for ourselves. I have yet to hear anything on the Discovery Channel about any of the actual contests like NAR has, or SLI & TARC. I'm sure if there was a small bleep about one that got lost in all the other episodes, someone will post it for me.
If the Discovery Channel were broadcasting stories about the Carmack Prize and following contest entrants and showing programs about the team that won, I'd gladly give them a pat on the back and say "thank you, job well done." And please, no one tell me that doesn't sell commercials, because I don't care about the advertisers unless it's Armadillo Aerospace, Space X, Blue Origin or the like. Last I checked, they weren't. The one and only time I was exposed to the Discovery Channel at a launch they were asking people (spectators and rocket folks) to act like scripted fools to yell, jump and scream for the camera guy, on cue. That is exactly what I see when I watch DC episodes online and it just makes me shake my head roll my eyes. I personally don't like being portrayed like this and that is why I included it. I suspect everyone else who has signed their name feels very similarly, or at least feels that the direction the Discovery Channel episodes are headed in
is not in the right direction.
If someone is going to show the world on national TV about what it is we do and enjoy, I personally would like them to do it in as accurate a light as possible. I would like them to emphasize the extent we go to in order to make it safe for all who are involved. If they cannot do this and still sell the show to advertisers, then they need to look somewhere else IMO. If a clear message is sent to any & all networks who currently show hobby or high power rocket motors (commercial, certified commercial or experimental) being used in their programming, perhaps they will all put more thought into delivering a message AND image of safety and responsibility in order to seek our approval.
If an accurate and safe type of programming doesn't sell advertisements for them, it is not our loss............ I guess they can go film
apple pie baking contests, call it a race to the finish and call Betty Crocker with the winner.
If you agree this is in your clubs best interest, copy the text below and add your name please.
If it would please more people, perhaps we could change the apology request to come from the RCR staff only.
Recent broadcasts of Rocket City Rednecks have reflected an increasingly negative image of our hobby and our approach to safety.
We hereby petition for the removal of any & all hobby model rocket & high power rocket motors from the network broadcasts of NatGeo, The Discovery Channel, any of their related affiliates, and any likenesses there of, for displaying improper use of these products in an unsafe and dangerous manner and for unsafe uses other than that on the product instructions stated use. We request the removal of these and similar episodes from future distribution, and/or public or private broadcasts and request any future use of these products be done in a safe, responsible manner.
The following members of Tripoli Rocketry Association & the National Association of Rocketry, hereby endorse this petition and request an apology from the Networks.
Name / TRA# / NAR# / Certification Level
Scott Kormeier / TRA 7764 / NAR 92711 / Level 3
Matt Fletcher / TRA 14257 / N/A / Level 0
Eric Foster / TRA 12959 / N/A / Level 3
David Walden / TRA 14201 / N/A / Level 0
Michael Ruzzi / TRA N/A / NAR 87149 LR / Level 2
Tom Hier / TRA 9826 / Level 3
Chad Rogers / NAR 89278 / Level 2
Gregg Discenza / NAR 91293 / Level 1
Lamar Martinez / NAR 77683 / Level 1
Adrian Butler / NAR 73787 / TRA 13524 / Level 2
David Bauer / NAR 88405/ Level 1
Jarrett Dorough / NAR 92853 / Level 2
Jason Sargent / NAR 93283 / Level 1
Paul C Glassen / NAR93397 / Level 1