Will the dropping of outdoor programming by ESPN be the death-knell of bass-fishing’s popularity?We have to agree with Louisiana’s Greg Hackney, who said the suits in Bristol, Conn., never really understood the sport or its roots.
“The sport is bigger than any TV network,” Hackney said after word leaked May 21 that ESPN would drop its Saturday outdoors shows. “There’s going to be bass fishermen, whether it’s on ESPN or BFN.”
Hackney is correct. But Willie Burkhardt, president of the Sportsman Channel, probably came closer to the truth, telling BassFan.com that ESPN made a fundamental error in trying to present a lifestyle choice, hunting and fishing, as a competition.
“Serving the information and entertainment needs of the American sportsmen is about celebrating a lifestyle and a way of life rather than covering an event or competition,” he said.
ESPN will end its Saturday morning block of outdoor shows on ESPN2 in January 2011, except for the Bassmaster Elite Series. After the heyday of televised bass fishing began about 13 years ago, the ESPN and FLW tours battled each other tooth and nail to get the best anglers. When Irwin Jacobs, the CEO of FLW, signed Walmart as a major sponsor, BASS sold itself to ESPN to stay in the game.
It really was like a high-stakes poker game. The only problem for FLW was Jacobs, a former junk-bonds trader, tried to corner the market and create a monopoly while battling ESPN/BASS. Brand names and sponsors became bombs and bullets, and anglers soon discovered if they promoted the wrong boat or motor, they’d be unwelcome on one or the other of the two major tours. ESPN/BASS shot itself in the foot when popular pro anglers such as David Fritts, Jay Yelas, Larry Nixon and Jimmy Houston left to fish elsewhere because of sponsor conflicts.
Along the way, managers of bass-fishing tours — and some big-name pros — lost their way and alienated anglers first attracted to the sport by dumping relatively cheap entry fees that allowed Joe Weekend Angler to compete with established pros and have a chance to win.
Last January, Genmar, the boat-building company Jacobs created, was put on the bankruptcy block, which meant Walmart’s loss as an FLW sponsor. ESPN followed five months later with the decision to end nearly all its outdoor programming.
Whether tournament bass fishing ends up at Outdoors Channel, Versus, Pursuit or World Fishing Network, we’d suggest a return to basics in order to generate attention from old and young angler/viewers, who ultimately are consumers of fishing tackle, boats, etc.
The second longest-running program on ESPN remains Jerry McKinnis’ “The Fishing Hole,” which has been off the air for several years. With his gentle delivery, quiet background music, emphasis on interesting guest anglers and a format aimed at teaching fishing techniques, watching “The Fishing Hole” was a Saturday-morning must.
Fishing and hunting are activities best done in quiet settings. McKinnis didn’t scream or break dance in his boat after catching a bass; he simply admired his catches and released fish alive after telling his viewers how he caught them. Fireworks and confetti weren’t necessary.
Flashy and loud might be a way to draw a rock-and-roll audience, but it doesn’t work for anglers. Most rock’n’rollers don’t buy bass boats.
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