As a DMO, PR Rep. or Travel Industry Professional, we speak your language.  If you are unfamiliar with our platform or IP, then this page is an excellent introduction. Our online media kit is here. 

​The Erik the Travel Guy platforms offers marketers and advertisers multi-channel opportunities to reach the travel, interested consumer. Our team of experts will partner with you to understand your needs and build customized integrated content and distribution solutions to align with your marketing goals. Solutions utilize our Emmy winning video content production team under the direction of travel expert and program host, Erik Hastings, and through exposure on our PBS shows, digital platform, and social media channels.

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Beyond Your Backyard is an Emmy award-winning, educational travel series highlighting destinations in North America and beyond demonstrating there’s so much more that brings us together than divides us. Each episode is focused on one geographic place. Erik is looking for meaningful stories to bring to his viewers. Emmy award-winning television personality Erik Hastings (Erik the Travel Guy) travels beyond experiences to uncover the soul of every place he visits. Each episode digs deep to educate viewers on the history and culture, delicious food, famous attractions as well as off-the-beaten-path haunts; reminding viewers us how exciting it is to share and understand one another and just how connected we really are.

​Beyond Your Backyard is nationally syndicated on PBS and CREATE and is seen on 328 broadcast channels in 161 markets in 48 states in the United States. Each episode is seen by three million people (estimated). ​ 

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ABOUT ERIK THE TRAVEL GUY & BEYOND YOUR BACKYARD

Dr Oz, Two EMMYS and Carnival, all in 2019!

What The Show Is About

A Short Message from Erik to Advertisers

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO US

Enough about us already! Well, the rest of the page contains more information about us. But please introduce yourself to us. Here are a few ideas...

• Call or Email Us. Kevin Allen is our VP of Biz. Development and Executive Producer for Beyond Your Backyard. Email him, or call him anytime
• Add us to your media distribution list - News@EriktheTravelGuy.com 
• Connect with us on YouTubewww.youtube.com/erikthetravelguy
• Make suggestions to pages on this site relevant to your destination or travel product/company or service
• Erik is based in NYC, and is happy to meet with you in your office anytime or via phone, Kevin will make all the arrangements 

WINNER OF TWO EMMYS IN ITS FIRST YEAR

In 2019, Beyond Your Backyard and its host Erik the Travel Guy were awarded two EMMY Awards for outstanding achievement in television programming.  

In 2019, Erik made his first appearance on the Dr. Oz program. He was published in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, USA Today and The New York Times. See, watch and hear Erik's recent media appearances on the Media Home Page. ​

EPISODE PREVIEW

WITHIN EACH EPISODE​

​To build familiarity with viewers, each episode features the following:

• One geographic location (or region)
• A connection with locals
• Meaningful stories that connect viewers to the place/people
• Erik learns the history and culture of the destination
• Erik gets hands-on with an activity
• Erik learns the local culture through its food
• Erik features and/or discusses attractions and beyond the attractions both on the beaten path and off 
• Erik may discuss logistics of visiting (peak season, the weather, transportation, etc.) 

NATIONAL BROADCAST

Beyond Your Backyard is seen on 328 broadcast channels in 161 markets in 48 states in the United States. Each episode is seen by three million people (estimated).  

• 10 of the Top 10 markets in the US
• 21 of the Top 25 markets in the US
• 40 of the Top 50 markets in the US
• Total station count: 328
• DMA's: 161
• USTVHH Coverage: 85% 

Beyond Your Backyard is syndicated nationwide by NETA and APT for the CREATE channel. Affiliates have unrestricted broadcast, digital and streaming rights to all episodes and related videos for three years from the original feed date. 

​View / Download In Depth ETG/BYB Information

ERIK'S DEMOGRAPHICS/REACH

Millions of consumers over the years have turned to Erik for practical and relevant travel advice. Through his unique and diversified distribution network of platforms, the following accurately describes his audience.  View / Download In Depth ETG/BYB Reach Information
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• Erik's media reaches 1.5 million people in the US each week
• Each episode of Beyond Your Backyard is seen by 3 million people
• Through broadcast, Erik is seen in 85% of American households 
• Primarily residing in the Eastern Timezone
• 50% of the BYB's audience is 50+
• 25% of BYB's audience is 18-34
• 25% of BYB's audience is 35-49
• 100,000k+ Income 
• Educated, With Children

Reach numbers are estimated and based on website metrics, PBS metrics, Broadcast viewers, YouTube metrics, Radio listeners, social media reach and sponsor digital platforms (such as CruiseOne and countless DMO's) featuring Erik The Travel Guy.

THE POWERFUL PBS AUDIENCE

• Each month, nearly 100 million people watch their local PBS stations
• PBS provides a halo for your brand… viewers say that corporate brands associated with PBS have a commitment to quality and excellence
• Over the course of a year, 82% of all U.S. television households watch PBS
• PBS’ non-commercial media environment is unique in delivering higher recall and brand lift, and in creating a purchase preference for your company as a result​

AMAZON PRIME, YOUTUBE & ETG.com

• As of January, 2020 - Seasons One and Two of Beyond Your Backyard are available to Amazon Prime members, on YouTube and ETG.com 
• Season Three will be available to Amazon Prime members, on YouTube and on ETG.com in the Summer of 2020

PBS.org

All broadcast episodes of Beyond Your Backyard, promos and bonus material available on PBS.org.  Bonus material consists of the following: 

• Extended interviews from each episode (three or four full-length interviews per episode)
• Education promos (one minute, two minute and three minute versions)
• Erik The Travel Guy library of Short-Form Destination Overviews  
• View PBS Page: http://www.pbs.org/show/beyond-your-backyard/​​

SEASON 1 

SEASON 2 ​

Season One consists of thirteen episodes which began airing on public broadcasting stations in April 2018. National availability began September 5, 2018 through NETA. The CREATE channel began receiving the series on November, 29 2018. International availability of Season One began in January, 2019. Episode breakdown:
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101. Gettysburg, PA
102. Montgomery County, VA
103. Key West, FL
104. Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors
105. Williamsburg, VA
106. The Bahamas
107. Washington, DC 
108. New Orleans, LA 
109. Bryan - College Station, TX
110. Chicago, IL (Season Finale)
111. Northern California
112. Thanksgiving Special
113. Holiday Special

SEASON 3 

Season Three consists of 13 episodes which will be available to stations in the Spring of 2020 and will be distributed by NETA. Each episode will arrive broadcast-ready with English subtitles. 

Season Two consists of nine episodes which began airing on March 20, 2019 and is distributed by NETA and TVS. 

201. Cozumel, QR
202. Little Rock, AR
203. Scottsdale, AZ
204. Boone, NC
205. St Pete / Clearwater, FL                           
206. Laurel Highlands, PA
207. Little Rock, AR Part Two
208. Jamaica
209. The Azores

SEASON 4​

Season Four consists of 13 episodes which will be available to stations in the Fall of 2020 and will be distributed by NETA. Each episode will arrive broadcast-ready with English subtitles. 

THE HOST

Erik Hastings, a.k.a. Erik the Travel Guy is an EMMY award-winning television personality who is rapidly emerging as “America’s Travel Expert”. He is the host and managing editor of the internationally syndicated television series "Beyond Your Backyard" for public broadcasting stations (PBS) and other networks/VOD platforms. Erik leads an incredibly talented team of industry pros as the driving force of his platform. Erik understands and believes whole-hardheartedly that travel makes the world a better place. The industry directly supports millions of families all over the world. He wants his viewers to experience the potentially life-changing positive power of travel. Read Erik's Full Bio.

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AUTHENTIC EDITORIAL

Erik is on a personal mission to help consumers travel more often. The media he creates is effective, approachable and authentic. Because of his acute understanding of his audience, he (and his team) create IP with a proprietary blend of emotional storytelling, humor, facts and his editorial opinion. He is transparent with his audience about his content and the role sponsors play. His editorial content consists of:

• A Weekly Television Series
• Short-Form Online Travel Videos & Tips
• Articles
• Social Media Posts
• Monthly Newsletter (opt in only)
• Podcast

DMO & INDUSTRY FRIENDLY

Erik and his team create IP that sponsors love because he loves what he does! He works with sponsors who wish to associate their brands side-by-side with his editorial point of view. He has worked with and for notable travel brands such as Carnival Cruise Corp., Hertz, American Airlines and countless DMO's for more than a decade. Sponsors appreciate his authenticity, passion and commitment to integrity and honesty while still having fun! Sponsors participate by:

• PBS TV Series Sponsorship (Production Underwriting)
• Commissioning Custom Content 
• Contextual Advertising on Erik's Platforms

  

ERIK'S TEAM LEADERS

CONTACT US

To learn more about Erik, schedule an interview or discuss underwriting sponsorship, please use the form below and we will be in touch immediately. Or call Kevin Allen - 1-646-350-0037.