InterMedia Throws in the Towel on the PWT
Category: Tournament
Aug 5th, 2008 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Aug 5th, 2008 at 12:00 AM
WalleyeFIRST spoke yesterday with Jim Kalkofen, Executive Director of the In Fisherman PWT for the last 14 years, on the telephone.
Jim stated In Fisherman and he parted ways last Friday, and indicated the remaining events would go forward as planned. He expressed regret that In Fisherman decided to eliminate the Professional Walleye trail, and was surprised the decision was announced mid-season.
Chip Leer will continue his duties as 2008 Tournament Director, and Julie Meister will remain as Tournament Coordinator. Julie reported this morning that she and Chip are looking very much forward to the PWT Can AM, and will be working with WalleyeFIRST to provide a clear, steady, and enjoyable live video stream.
Mr. Kalkofen, an icon in the Professional Walleye fishing industry, was instrumental in forming the In Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail with original owners and Founders of In Fisherman, Ron and Al Lindner. Prior to that time, Mr. Kalkofen was on the Board of Directors and was one of the Founders of the MWC, which at that time was the Manufacturer's Walleye Council, as a liaison from Mercury Marine. Prior to and during Mercury Marine's sponsorship with the MWC under their Mariner Branding, Jim formed the Mariner Open Walleye Tournaments, which were successful for several years. Jim was inducted into the Freshwater Hall Of Fame last year, nominated by Industry and Angling professionals across the country because of his visionary dedication to the development and forwarding of the sport of competitive Walleye angling.
Be sure to listen to the WalleyeFIRST Radio Interview with former PWT Executive Director Jim Kalkofen published yesterday afternoon.
In-Fisherman Discontinues Professional Walleye Trail in 2009 – Company Plans Future Investments in Walleye-Focused Media
Baxter, MN (August 5, 2008)-In-Fisherman, a division of InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., today announced that it will discontinue operation of the Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) after the 2008 season. The PWT started with a single event in 1989 and grew to become North America's most prestigious walleye tournament series.
During the past 19 years the PWT served as a proving ground for new tackle and marine equipment and the birthplace for innovative tactics that have made anglers across the country more successful. Along the way the PWT has awarded millions of dollars in cash and prizes to thousands of professional and amateur participants. However, sponsorship support no longer covers event expenses, and angler participation has declined in recent years.
Announcing the decision, In-Fisherman Publisher Steve Hoffman said, "This was a difficult decision for us, but in the end we felt that the PWT was no longer an effective way for us to serve the dedicated angler, which is our core mission at In-Fisherman."
The PWT has three events remaining in its 2008 schedule culminating in the 2008 PWT Championship Shootout on October 16-18 in Hudson, Wisconsin, with a first-place purse of $50,000.
Going forward, InterMedia Outdoors will continue to invest in walleye-focused media including additional editorial content in Walleye In-Sider magazine, content and functionality improvements in WalleyeFan.com, the launch of a new television series "Walleye In-Sider" which will begin shooting in October and will debut in the fourth quarter of next year, and the development and launch of a fully redesigned In-Fisherman website with content devoted to walleyes and virtually every other freshwater fish.
Hoffman added, "We're very excited about our new print, online and television endeavors, and are confident that we will not only teach millions of anglers how to catch more and bigger walleyes, but will continue to help our advertisers sell more product."
About In-Fisherman
For over thirty years, In-Fisherman has been the communications leader in the freshwater fishing industry through the integration of publications, television, radio, books, videos, DVD's and the Internet. In-Fisherman publications include In-Fisherman and Walleye In-Sider magazines; plus six annuals, Walleye Guide, Catfish In-Sider Guide, Bass Guide, Ice Fishing Guide, Pike & Muskie Guide, and coming in 2009 the Panfish Guide. The In-Fisherman Library consists of over 19 educational fishing books and 95 instructional fishing DVD's and videos. In-Fisherman Television airs 52 weeks a year on Outdoor Channel, Outdoor Channel 2HD, Fox Sports Net, The Sportsman Channel, Wild TV, and select broadcast markets. In-Fisherman Radio airs 6 days a week to over 420 stations nationwide. In-Fisherman's website can be found at www.in-fisherman.com.
About InterMedia Outdoors
InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. is the leading multimedia company exclusively serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts, with the largest network of websites dedicated to hunting, shooting and fishing; a portfolio of 17 magazines including powerful brands such as Guns & Ammo, Petersen's Hunting, Fly Fisherman, and Florida Sportsman; syndicated radio programming; 11 market-leading television productions, the largest library of outdoors television programming and The Sportsman Channel, the only television network 100% dedicated to hunting, shooting and fishing.