The Town of Odyssey

Dallas R. wrote:Families would do much better to spend $15 a month to buy 12 new albums each year and then have the entire collection in 5 years.

You're still thinking like a long-time fan. Set aside for a moment how awesome you already know Odyssey to be and think like a parent who has no interest in listening to/watching a children's program for any longer than his/her own children are in the target age. It doesn't matter to this parent how much they could have bought over the same time with the same amount of money because they're not interested in keeping any of the episodes.

Imagine for a minute a parent whose child has just asked for Adventures in Odyssey. They look over the program, decide it's acceptable for their child, see that their child is in the target age range, then glance over and see their DVD collection overflowing with Barney, Dora, Veggie Tales, Sesame Street, etc. Countless DVD's that the kids have outgrown take up space in their living room. Here's a way for their children to get the full benefits of Odyssey without having to invest in a collection their children (so they think) will inevitably outgrow and give up. You and I know that "investing" in a collection would actually be the cheaper route, but that's not what the parent is looking for. At least with the OAC they get a children's magazine, too.

I'm not saying I like it. I'm trying to look at it from the perspective of their target audience. Actually, I think it's a really great idea except for the fact that they're releasing exclusive episodes through the club. If they had a different way to give the exclusive episodes to us long-time fans they would really be on to something.

Mrs Jason Whittaker wrote: You're still thinking like a long-time fan. Set aside for a moment how awesome you already know Odyssey to be and think like a parent who has no interest in listening to/watching a children's program for any longer than his/her own children are in the target age. It doesn't matter to this parent how much they could have bought over the same time with the same amount of money because they're not interested in keeping any of the episodes.

You're right. I am seeing it like a long-time fan. I get that. But I can't see how signing your kids up for a $180 club is any shorter-term in thinking. If we really want to think as parents, we would be more like mine. My episodes came from the radio. My parents made sure that I didn't have to do chores or homework during the 30 minute radio slot. But that was it. No buying me albums, and especially not buying me an expensive club. At age 9 I won a gift card from the radio station to the Christian book store and bought my first album by myself. It wasn't that my parents didn't like Odyssey, but it is as you said. They didn't want to spend a bunch of money on something that I would probably outgrow in a few years. The radio and online player- those are great options for parent's looking to save money. I don't see the club as that option.

I don't want to seem too hostile, because at the root of it, I think we both agree. The club is a good idea, especially for new fans who want to catch up. We both don't like the exclusive episodes. But simply based on that issue, I cannot and will not see this club as a positive thing. I can see positive elements, but overall the club is significantly flawed.

um........that brings up a good question.........are they going to discontinue the radio time and online player with the weekday and weekend eps??? If so, and the club is the only way to listen to even one episode a day from the net or radio, then I will really be upset. Until I came to Sweden and bought all the albums, I listened daily and collected the albums as I could. I would imagine based on the time I heard it, that it comes on during many family´s dinner times and helps settle the kids down to listen as they eat and then discuss afterwards.

-- 04 Nov 2013 04:32 pm --

Mrs Jason Whittaker wrote:
You are all looking at this OAC from the perspective of long-time fans and collectors. Sure, from that perspective it doesn't make sense. The only things we want to collect from this are the exclusive episodes and the limited episodes (such as the Harley episodes), and those don't seem to be worth the price. If you look at it from the perspective of the target audience--a family with young children looking for an entertainment option for your children, you may have heard of AIO or even heard a few epidisodes, but you don't own any episodes. $15 a month to provide wholesome entertainment for your children is really a pretty good deal.

Having said all that, the Adventure Club is not ideal for me. I would suggest an alternative where the new and exclusive episodes are available for purchase. Or, an additional benefit of being a club member is to download one episode per month so you have a collection at the end of your subscription.

I am not a tech wiz but don´t many DVR´s have the ability to then transfer what you have saved to DVD or USB? I keep saying if they just put the "exclusive" eps on iTunes for purchase/download, I would be perfectly happy. And being able to listen and download them should be a club privilege for the price they are already paying. I have no problem with that. However, if the Harley eps are only available to the club, I will really be upset.

Dallas R. wrote: I don't want to seem too hostile, because at the root of it, I think we both agree. The club is a good idea, especially for new fans who want to catch up. We both don't like the exclusive episodes. But simply based on that issue, I cannot and will not see this club as a positive thing. I can see positive elements, but overall the club is significantly flawed.

Exactly! Different people like different things and differenfamilies with pay for different things. I guess we'll all find out how many families are willing to pay for the OAC soon enough.

Mrs Jason Whittaker wrote:

Dallas R. wrote: I don't want to seem too hostile, because at the root of it, I think we both agree. The club is a good idea, especially for new fans who want to catch up. We both don't like the exclusive episodes. But simply based on that issue, I cannot and will not see this club as a positive thing. I can see positive elements, but overall the club is significantly flawed.

Exactly! Different people like different things and differenfamilies with pay for different things. I guess we'll all find out how many families are willing to pay for the OAC soon enough.

Exactly! Bonus material, interviews, videos of the making of the eps, etc. That is all good for the club, go for it! My primary objection is being left out of the new episodes which could just as easily be put on the radio as part of the ministry or at the very least on iTunes (I keep saying iTunes because CBD does not work overseas).

jennifertwt wrote:

Mrs Jason Whittaker wrote:

Dallas R. wrote: I don't want to seem too hostile, because at the root of it, I think we both agree. The club is a good idea, especially for new fans who want to catch up. We both don't like the exclusive episodes. But simply based on that issue, I cannot and will not see this club as a positive thing. I can see positive elements, but overall the club is significantly flawed.

Exactly! Different people like different things and differenfamilies with pay for different things. I guess we'll all find out how many families are willing to pay for the OAC soon enough.

Exactly! Bonus material, interviews, videos of the making of the eps, etc. That is all good for the club, go for it! My primary objection is being left out of the new episodes which could just as easily be put on the radio as part of the ministry or at the very least on iTunes (I keep saying iTunes because CBD does not work overseas).

CBD does work outside of the states, you just have to be clever about it, I've used it many times

CBD works in Canada, not Sweden, or I am guessing any other country outside North America. I have even tried paying with an American bank and credit card.

jennifertwt wrote:CBD works in Canada, not Sweden, or I am guessing any other country outside North America. I have even tried paying with an American bank and credit card.

CBD does NOT work in Canada but as I said there are ways around that, the same is true for Sweden or any other country

hm.........if it comes to that you will have to send me a private message. I just hope the Harley files are not ONLY on the club stream...........that would be totally unfair.

Jesus' Princess wrote:Nope. I have other things I'd rather spend my money on, and besides, even if I did have $180 extra dollars at my disposal, I can't justify spending that much for 12 episodes.

It's 180 a year. I think it's like 20 a month or something. I will be joining. All 700+ episodes at MY disposal at ALL TIMES!? Anyone who doesn't get it has to be crazy.

Anyone who says that anyone who doesn't get it is crazy is unaware of facts. For people who already have every episode in hard copy form, the club is not an economically sound idea. Think about it dude.

Edit--And check your math. It's $15, not 20 something.

Mr. Sunnys wrote:

Jesus' Princess wrote:Nope. I have other things I'd rather spend my money on, and besides, even if I did have $180 extra dollars at my disposal, I can't justify spending that much for 12 episodes.

It's 180 a year. I think it's like 20 a month or something. I will be joining. All 700+ episodes at MY disposal at ALL TIMES!? Anyone who doesn't get it has to be crazy.

Because we can all get fifteen bucks a month to pay for something many of us either already have or don't want to have because we're selective. Other expenses? What are those?

We already have over half the albums, either on cassette tape or on CD. Any episodes I want that badly, I can go buy them for two bucks on iTunes instead of paying fifteen bucks a month just for free access to them. Maybe I'm just that picky, but I'm quite frankly not interested in hearing all the episodes, and even if I were, I wouldn't pay fifteen bucks a month for something I maybe have a small fraction of time to try to do. iTunes it is, it would seem.

What's bothersome about the OAC is that you've got to pay $180 a year--which is quite a bit of money--and it's not like you even get to *keep* the episodes. With that money, think of how many albums I could get. If I'm only able to listen to that when I have an Internet connection, I'd be very, very limited in when and where I could listen.

I wish we could fast forward six months to a year and see how this is going to play out. I have a friend in the third world who says the Club will completely cut him off from Odyssey. I urged him to send in his viewpoint to Brock at Focus. We have not heard if the radio broadcast will continue with reruns, but even if it does, it will probably never contain the OAC eps, and if it does it will be years. I am 48. Time is limited, and so is my wallet. I had told myself I was going to stop following Odyssey when the Club launched, but now I don´t know. I want to know if there is "news". It is a tough choice. There are alot of things that take one´s time and attention. I think, the Club, might actually urge marginal fans who are not joining to spend that time focusing on other things, which would be counterproductive to their intent. Ah, well, could go on, and we have rahashed this to death. All we can do is pray for a quick change in policy. If the Club goes beyond a year or especially if the Harley files are ONLY available to the club, then I am definitely through. That is like saying that sticking with the show for 25 years and waiting for the Harley files is worth nothing to the producers.

jennifertwt wrote:That is like saying that sticking with the show for 25 years and waiting for the Harley files is worth nothing to the producers.

True that. *nods*

New Email I got yesterday

Thanks, James, for replying to our message and for your ongoing interest in our Odyssey Adventure Club.



In response to your question, you might be interested to know that we plan to release the episodes featuring Officer Harley only through our club. As a bit of background, this decision was made in part because the stories involving Harley were later re-worked for other Odyssey episodes. We didn’t want listeners, then, to purchase an Officer Harley set only to be disappointed that the plotlines too closely resemble other stories. Those participating in the club, of course, would be receiving the set free of charge.



That being said, it’s certainly possible the Officer Harley episodes could someday be available for purchase were there sufficient demand. For that reason, feedback like yours is critical, and you may be assured that your inquiry will be given the attention it deserves.



Again, thanks for contacting us, and we hope you’ll keep listening to Odyssey. Blessings!



Jeremy Hill
Focus on the Family

. .oh, boy.

that´s it for me.................I have personally requested the Harley files be released for YEARS! This is a slap in the face. My Swedish husband is now calling it "The Snob Club".

Those participating in the club, of course, would be receiving the set free of charge.

That's slightly dishonest. No such thing as a free lunch, and all that. Plus you have to pay for at least one month to get it.

And Jimmy, where are you writing where you actually get a response? Brock has taken to ignoring me, and I still have a few questions I'd like answered.

I posted my sentiments on the Adventures in Odyssey facebook page, but they will probably be deleted. This just adds a perfect ending to an already horrible day. Thank you Focus and AIO.

-- 17 Dec 2013 08:11 pm --

Jonathan wrote:

Those participating in the club, of course, would be receiving the set free of charge.

That's slightly dishonest. No such thing as a free lunch, and all that. Plus you have to pay for at least one month to get it.

And Jimmy, where are you writing where you actually get a response? Brock has taken to ignoring me, and I still have a few questions I'd like answered.

I still think there has to be a year contract involved. Plus, you still don´t own them.......they would make so much more money if they would release them on iTunes as well. You cannot tell me THAT is prevented by contracts!