Founding Sponsor Bass Cat Renews with MLF
Category: article
Jan 30th, 2020 by Keith Worrall
Modified Jan 30th, 2020 at 4:39 PM
Founding Sponsor Bass Cat Renews with MLF in 2020
January 30, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Bass Cat, the longest continuously operating tournament bass boat company in the United States, extended their sponsorship of the Bass Pro Tour and Major League Fishing Cup events for a ninth consecutive year. Highlights include comprehensive linear and digital advertising across livestream, Discovery, and Sportsman Channel, as well as presenting sponsorship of a Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour. Details of the deal were not disclosed.
“Not many people realize that Bass Cat is the founding sponsor of MLF;” commented Rick Pierce, President, Bass Cat and Yar-Craft Boats. “We’ve enjoyed a lot of firsts in our 49 years of doing business, but nothing quite matches supporting MLF as it evolves into the exceptional television, live stream, and league property it is today.”
In support of MLF’s angler-centric philosophy, Bass Cat first signed with Major League Fishing in 2011 as they prepared to launch a 24-angler, made-for-television tournament series in partnership with Outdoor Channel in early 2012. MLF Cup events premiered a fast-paced, catch-weigh-immediately-release format in which anglers compete in three periods each day with every fish over a minimum weight counting toward that day’s total. The MLF Cup events have grown into the highest rated property on Outdoor Channel each quarter its aired.
In 2019 MLF expanded by launching the Bass Pro Tour featuring 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee, and Skeet Reese. Each Stage includes six days of competition using the Major League Fishing, catch-weigh-and-immediately-release format.
Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and MajorLeagueFishing.com, totaling more than 325 hours of original programming. Fans can follow their favorite pros in the fast-paced nature of the MLF format as it unfolds on the live leaderboard through “SCORETRACKER® updates.” Highlights from each Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour will air on Discovery Network beginning in July 2020 and Sportsman Channel in early 2021.
“MLF offers the strongest broadcast presence in the industry to fans and sponsors,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “Bass Cat understands the value of taking a risk to invest in the future of our sport; we’re grateful for Rick’s vision, leadership, and friendship, as together our companies chart new opportunities for anglers at all levels.”
About Bass Cat
Bass Cat, owned by Correct Craft, manufactures the industry’s premier bass fishing boats from its headquarters in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Family operated since its founding in 1971, Bass Cat is the longest continuously operating tournament bass boat company in the United States. For more information visit www.Bass Cat.com.
About Correct Craft
Celebrating 95 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Bryant boat companies, Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group, Watershed Innovation and Aktion Parks. For more information, visit www.correctcraft.com.
About Major League Fishing
Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms through highly rated programming on Outdoor Channel, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). The Bass Pro Tour consists of eight stages and a championship streamed live on www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and MOTV.
In late 2019 MLF acquired FLW, which expanded their portfolio to include the largest grassroots fishing organization, including the strongest five-fish format professional bass fishing tour, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, as well as the Toyota Series, and several other circuits aimed at reaching anglers at all ages and levels. For more information on the league and anglers, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com and follow MLF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.