MINNEAPOLIS – Outdoor Life Network, a leader in outdoor and adventure programming, and FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing, have announced an agreement allowing OLN to broadcast six episodes of “FLW Outdoors” May 25 through July 5.
The agreement calls for each previously broadcast episode to run an average of six times on OLN, which reaches 43 million subscribers through cable television, DIRECTV and The Dish Network. May air times are 8 to 9 p.m. EST May 25, 1 to 2 p.m. EST May 26, 7 to 8 p.m. EST May 28 and 7 to 8 p.m. EST May 30. June air times are 8 to 9 p.m. EST Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and 1 to 2 p.m. EST Sundays. July air times are 7 to 8 p.m. EST July 2 and July 5. “FLW Outdoors” will also air live every Saturday at 3 p.m. EST on PAX TV.
“We are excited about the opportunity brought to us by OLN,” said Charlie Hoover, FLW Outdoors president. “This partnership allows us to further expand our reach by exposing a greater share of the nation’s 77 million outdoor enthusiasts to the fast-growing sport of competitive fishing. We are always looking for new opportunities to bring professional fishing into as many homes as possible through television.”
“FLW Outdoors” is a magazine-style program featuring guest appearances by fishing legends, angler profiles and the most up-to-date news from the professional fishing world, including coverage of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour – the world’s most lucrative professional bass fishing series – EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit.
OLN was launched in July 1995 and acquired by Comcast in 2001. Current OLN programming includes “Wal-Mart’s Great Outdoors,” “In-Fisherman,” “Fishing University,” “Fishing with Roland Martin” and “The Best of Bill Dance.”
“Adding `FLW Outdoors’ to our broad selection of outdoor and adventure programming provides substantial value to our viewers,” said Peter Englehart, OLN senior vice president of programming and production. “`FLW Outdoors’ presents a fresh approach to fishing shows. From nail-biting Wal-Mart FLW Tour finishes to highlights from the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit, `FLW Outdoors’ covers every aspect of fishing.”
The $5.1 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour is FLW Outdoors’ flagship tournament series. Wal-Mart became title sponsor of the FLW Tour in 1997, and today the tour has one of the strongest sponsorship teams in professional sports. Sponsors of the 2002 season are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Act II, Berkley, David Sunflower Seeds, Eagle Claw, Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.
FLW Outdoors will operate 170 tournaments in 2002 through the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit and Ranger M1. The company will award anglers up to $22 million this season.
Comcast is the nation’s third largest cable services provider. Comcast and AT&T Broadband, the nation’s largest cable services provider, are working toward a $72 billion merger that will form one of the most powerful communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. The new company, to be called AT&T Comcast Corporation, will have 22 million subscribers.
Visit OLNTV.com or Comcast.com for additional information.