MINNEAPOLIS – We’re moving on up – straight to prime time.
FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing tournaments, has made the leap to prime time via the Outdoor Life Network, regarded by many as the nation’s foremost network devoted entirely to outdoor programming.
The “FLW Outdoors” program will be broadcast Saturdays at 8 p.m. EST through the month of June on OLN beginning June 15. Each prime-time airing of “FLW Outdoors” on Saturdays throughout the month will feature a new, original episode.
Currently in the midst of a highly successful network test period, executives at FLW Outdoors are enthusiastic about extending a broadcasting agreement with OLN, which reaches 43 million subscribers through cable television, DIRECTV and The Dish Network. FLW Outdoors is also a very recognizable name as the operator of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative professional bass fishing series with a total payout of $5.1 million.
“FLW Outdoors,” formerly seen on PAX TV, is a magazine-style program featuring guest appearances by fishing legends, angler profiles, tournament coverage and the most up-to-date news from the professional fishing world. Because the program airs the same day it is taped, “FLW Outdoors” can provide same-day coverage of high-profile tournaments and the most up-to-date information on all of its affiliated pro fishing tours.
OLN was launched in 1995 and acquired by Comcast in 2001. It is a 24-hour, advertiser-supported network specializing in outdoor and adventure programming. In addition to “FLW Outdoors,” OLN broadcasts other noted programs such as “Wal-Mart’s Great Outdoors,” “In-Fisherman,” “Fishing University,” “Fishing with Roland Martin” and “The Best of Bill Dance.”
FLW Outdoors Chairman Irwin Jacobs said: “We couldn’t be happier about `FLW Outdoors” leap to prime time. The Outdoor Life Network’s total focus on outdoor programming and the more angler-friendly time slot – it’s a great fit.”
The shift to prime-time airing is expected to boost the number of viewers tuning in weekly to watch “FLW Outdoors” for two reasons: Prime-time slots are traditionally more popular, and the later broadcast should find more anglers off the water and at home after a day of fishing or other outdoor recreation.
Another notable advantage of FLW’s new liaison with OLN is that the program will now play to a more tailored demographic. Because OLN is devoted to programming for sporting enthusiasts, “FLW Outdoors” can now dock alongside a host of other shows aimed at America’s 55 million anglers and other lovers of the outdoors in general.
“Those who watch the Outdoor Life Network are the kinds of people who will enjoy `FLW Outdoors’ and who are more likely to embrace its sponsors,” Jacobs said. “It’s a win-win situation for both organizations, not to mention the viewing public.”
Wal-Mart became title sponsor of the seven-tournament FLW Tour in 1997 along with the other professional fishing tournaments operated by FLW Outdoors including the EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Texas Tournament Trail and Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit. More than $21 million could be awarded to anglers in 2002 at the 170 plus tournaments operated by FLW Outdoors.
Today the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, flagship of the FLW Outdoors tournament series, has the strongest sponsorship teams in professional fishing. Sponsors for the 2002 season include 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'” remaining original episodes scheduled to air this summer will be televised at 8 p.m. EST on Saturdays for the rest of June. Previously aired, one-hour episodes of “FLW Outdoors” will also appear on OLN six times a week through July 5 at the following times: Thursdays at 8 and 11 p.m. EST, Saturdays at 11 p.m. EST, Sundays at 1 p.m. EST and Tuesdays at 8 and 11 p.m. EST.
The June 15 prime-time program will feature the winners of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League’s All-American tournament that recently brought the nation’s best weekend bass anglers together for high-caliber fishing action at Louisiana’s Cross Lake. It also will present an in-depth conversation with Chevy pro Larry Nixon.
The June 22 program will originate from Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y., where the Forrest Wood Open will be under way. The tournament offers a first-place payout of $210,000 and is the last qualifying tournament for the FLW Tour Championship. The final original program this summer on June 29 will recap angling action from Lake Champlain, where the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year – to appear on a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box – will be crowned.
Programs scheduled to air on OLN this fall, after a short summer break in programming, will include coverage of FLW Outdoors’ biggest tournaments: the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship, which offers the highest first-place payout of any bass-fishing series at $260,000, in September; the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship in October; and the EverStart Series Championship in November.
More information about FLW Outdoors, the magazine or the TV program, can be found on this site. Bill Petrowiak, vice president of communications for FLW Outdoors, can be reached at (612) 337-1945 for more information about the “FLW Outdoors” shift to prime time. More information about OLN is available at OLNTV.com.