Weekly, it seems, yet another business in the shooting sports industry reports the same situation: Their company's Facebook or Instagram page was blocked or even shut down over complaints that they had posted inappropriate content. Usually, "inappropriate" means the post concerned hunting or firearms, the life blood of our industry.
When industry people get together and discuss this situation, invariably someone will say, “We should start our own media platform where we can share our videos without interference!”
Actually, a number of companies have done just this, including Mossy Oak, a pillar of the outdoors industry.
“The messaging from the shooting sports and the outdoors industries is continuously being hindered by an anti–Second Amendment and anti-hunting agenda,” says Ben Maki, Mossy Oak’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “And it has carried over into the realm of social media, with our posts scrutinized to no end by the social media companies themselves.”
To help remedy this situation, Mossy Oak GO, an online streaming video provider for all things outdoors, was launched in 2018. Mossy Oak GO provides free, original outdoors video content suited for hunters, saltwater and freshwater anglers, land managers, conservation enthusiasts, and shooting sports aficionados.
Campers, hikers, adventure seekers, culinary dabblers, and others interested in the outdoors will find content of interest to them at Mossy Oak GO, too. The site also offers a vast library of online videos for those who live the outdoors lifestyle.
“Mossy Oak GO is a stand-alone network that enables Mossy Oak to produce and promote a wide variety of content, ranging from hunting and fishing adventures toproduct reviews and everything in between,” Maki says. “All types of videos are posted, and while they serve their own purposes—providing outdoors entertainment, for example—they also prove that Mossy Oak is able to support its retail partners and its licensees digitally, without any consequences or limits from third parties.”
At Mossy Oak GO, the outdoors and the Second Amendment are celebrated, in everything from outdoors television show episodes to short films. There are also original series, like The Obsessed and Honor.
Mossy Oak’s Honor acknowledges the men and women who serve our nation and its people, telling their stories of heroism, bravery, and humility. One episode of the program featured Will Jimeno, a 9/11 survivor and Port Authority police officer who risked his life to help others on that terrible day.
Mossy Oak GO also creates awareness for many different brands and products, and connects the audience to a destination for purchase, whether it be at brick-and-mortar storefront or online. The combination of social media, MossyOak.com, and Mossy Oak GO provides a way for brand licensees and retail partners to get their products in front of outdoor consumers like never before. Mossy Oak GO is available at no cost, eliminating the hassle of free trials, monthly fees, or restricted access. Mossy Oak GO is available on all streaming platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, and ROKU. The app is also available on mobile devices through the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app is supported across all smart devices without a subscription, allowing you to watch the best in outdoors TV anytime, anyplace.
"With Mossy Oak GO, viewers don't have to deal with expensive subscription rates or with being interrupted by redundant commercials," Maki says. "We made it simple. Viewers download the app through a preferred streaming platform and start watching free, un-interrupted outdoors entertainment." (mossyoak.com)
—Brian McCombie
