UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                          ----------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                          ----------------------------


       DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): December 16, 2004

                         OUTDOOR CHANNEL HOLDINGS, INC.
                         ------------------------------
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

           Delaware                                               20-1558098
- -------------------------------                              -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
        Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                                     0-17287
                              ---------------------
                              (Commission File No.)

43445 Business Park Drive, Suite 113, Temecula, California            92590
- ----------------------------------------------------------         ------------
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                   (Zip Code)

                                 (951) 699-4749
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
                                       ---
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed, Since Last Report)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

|_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 5.02(c) APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICER.

On December 16, 2004, Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings") issued a news
release announcing the appointment of Thomas E. Hornish as General Counsel of
Holdings. A copy of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.




                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

OUTDOOR CHANNEL HOLDINGS, INC.



By:  /s/ William A. Owen
     ------------------------------------------------
Name: William A. Owen
Title:  Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  December 16, 2004