America’s largest, most prestigious fishing tournaments to reach over 300 million households worldwide
FLW Outdoors announced today that it has given worldwide distribution rights (excluding the U.S.) of its “FLW Outdoors” program, now being broadcast on FSN, to Matchroom Sport, an international television syndicate.
The “FLW Outdoors” show will be broadcast throughout the world in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom. In total, “FLW Outdoors” will reach more than 300 million households outside the U.S.; making it the most widely viewed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world. Through CCTV5, China alone will broadcast to 210 million households, while Germany and Russia will each reach over 30 million households. In addition, negotiations with other international broadcasters are currently being finalized.
These action-packed shows will feature complete coverage of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour. The shows will be broadcast in English with appropriate subtitles for the different markets.
Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors, said: “Our new television distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport for the international rights outside the U.S. to broadcast ‘FLW Outdoors’ throughout the world is truly one of the most exciting announcements we have made in our 10-year history. We know fishing is very popular worldwide. However, the international television and cable markets throughout the world have never experienced or seen anything quite like our professional tournaments that are now being broadcast on FSN throughout the United States.”
Jacobs went on to say: “The agreement with Matchroom will give all of our sponsors the opportunity to be seen and recognized by literally hundreds of millions of additional consumers and potential customers through a venue that will both entertain and market their products throughout the world. Our new Matchroom agreement is truly a milestone in FLW Outdoors history.”
Barry Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “The recently signed international distribution agreement between FLW Outdoors and Matchroom Sport is one of the most exciting agreements Matchroom has ever taken on. Fishing is truly a major sport in basically every country throughout the world. However, outside of the United States, the rest of the world has never before seen anything even close to the high-quality, big-money, tournament-fishing shows that FLW Outdoors presently offers to the U.S. television markets. We believe at Matchroom that, within a year of our new television distribution agreement, we will have ‘FLW Outdoors’ in over 300 million households throughout the world. Matchroom has several very successful television shows throughout the world, but quite frankly, ‘FLW Outdoors’ is one of the most unique television properties we have ever come across. There is no question within the Matchroom organization that ‘FLW Outdoors’ will be one of our most successful shows ever for worldwide distribution and entertainment.”
FSN regularly broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” stateside Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon ET. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area.
“FLW Outdoors” is also televised on the American Forces Network, which reaches over 800,000 servicemen and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard naval ships.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series, Ranger owners’ tournaments and Stratos owners’ tournaments. These circuits offer combined purses exceeding $35 million through 244 events in 2006.
Wal-Mart and more than 40 of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as title sponsor of the FLW Tour in 1997 and today is the title sponsor of all FLW Outdoors events.
By: J Sealock
