New Tour coming
MLF PRESS RELEASE
Major League Fishing
(MLF) officials today announced a significant expansion beginning in 2019 with
the goal of dramatically growing visibility and participation for the sport of
fishing. The plans will help realize the founding partners' original vision for
MLF to elevate competitive bass fishing and its top-tier pros to a national
exposure level and grow a fan base on par with other top major league sports.
The expanded MLF program
includes the addition of the Bass Pro Tour, a premier 80-angler, eight-event
tour with a championship and heightened payouts, made possible through
enthusiastic support from Bass Pro Shops and Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG).
Both partners are supporting MLF as part of their commitments to the future of
the sport through participation and conservation efforts.
Under the visionary leadership of noted
conservationist and founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops has been committed to
connecting new audiences to the outdoors and advocating for conservation for
more than 40 years. These foundational values directly align with MLF's
innovative approach to competitive fishing.
 |
|
MLF Pro Kevin VanDam (left), Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny
Morris (center) and MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn are on the same team
and same page when it comes to growing the sport of fishing and elevating pro
anglers' stature to levels comparable to athletes in other major league
sports. (Click to enlarge/download)
|
"Bass Pro Shops has
proudly supported MLF from its inception because we believed in its
mission to elevate the sport of fishing. Today we're very excited to take
the next step and help showcase this great sport to every household in
America," Morris said. "We truly believe this partnership will create
many positive and significant new opportunities for kids and families,
professional anglers and the sport itself. Equally important to us is
leveraging this popular platform to showcase the importance of conservation and
promote responsible fishing practices."
"MLF has delivered
on its promised vision every step of the way since Day One," Outdoor
Sportsman Group Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Matt
Hutchings said. "MLF has made fishing an even more popular spectator sport
through televised events on Outdoor Channel and other networks, as well as Outdoor
Sportsman Group's diverse media platforms in publishing and online. The MLF
model is a proven success and we are excited to continue the journey with all
of our partners towards future prosperity."
Today MLF tournaments
reach a bigger audience than any other tournament of their kind, and
television ratings and independent surveys consistently indicate the
fast-paced, action-packed format resonates with anglers of all ages, and is
especially effective at reaching the youth audiences essential for achieving
long-term interest and growth.
MLF's conservation-minded
"catch, weigh and immediate-release" rules allow participation on
waters where typical tournament formats can't go.
The model has earned respect and accolades from many state fish and game agencies.
The model has earned respect and accolades from many state fish and game agencies.
While MLF will continue
its popular Cup events and World Championship, airing on Outdoor Channel and
CBS, respectively, it will now also have its own new Bass Pro Tour competitions
and championship, and eventually tour qualifiers, all of which will use the
same entertaining MLF format in which numbers caught can often contribute more
to anglers' scores than do big fish.
"Seven years ago,
Gary Klein and I settled on a mission to expand the sport of professional bass
fishing through competitive tournaments with an all new and exciting
made-for-television format," said MLF and Pro Bass Tour Anglers'
Association (PBT) co-founder Boyd Duckett. "After assembling 13 more of
the sport's top-level professionals, the PBT partnership was formed. We always
believed if we elevated the visibility of our sport everyone in our industry
would be a beneficiary.
"The preparation
leading to this moment has been slow, methodical and well thought-out to ensure
the outcome would be positive for everyone connected to the sport. As a
result, we have a fully developed plan ready to go. Everyone in the
fishing industry should appreciate the new path that Outdoor Sportsman
Group and Mr. Morris have helped pave for the sport's future because of their
own personal beliefs toward conservation and the responsible use of our fish
and water resources."
MLF officials will announce the finalized MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule, format and anglers in the coming weeks.
MLF was formed in 2011
when Boyd Duckett and Gary Klein convinced television executives at Outdoor
Channel to share their vision and invest in the concept for a live-action style
broadcast during which all anglers could keep track of how other competitors
were doing via on-board scoreboards.
"We're especially
proud to be supporting anglers themselves, who make up an important part of
MLF's ownership team," added Morris. "Our support for this
expansion does not diminish our enthusiasm or support for other popular
tournament series including B.A.S.S., FLW and hundreds of grassroots events
across the country."
According to Nielsen
ratings, MLF has been Outdoor Channel's top-rated show in first quarters for
three years in a row.
MLF also airs on World
Fishing Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network and Discovery Channel.
For current MLF
schedules, rules, pros and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment