The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has signed a contract with In Country Television to air 30 hours of ProRodeo coverage in 2010, including all eight Gold Tier rodeos on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.
In Country, which reaches 32 million households through the DISH Network and Direct TV, will also air coverage of the All American ProRodeo Championships in Waco, Texas, and the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho.
In Country’s rodeo coverage will debut with the Feb. 4-21 San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo, one of only two PRCA regular-season rodeos offering more than $1 million in prize money. San Antonio is the five-time and reigning PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year and the richest event on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.
The Wrangler MDT is the centerpiece of the PRCA season, linking 22 of ProRodeo’s most prestigious events. There are two levels of competition, with those designated Gold Tier rodeos offering a committee purse of at least $20,000 in each event and Silver Tier rodeos a committee purse of at least $10,000 per event.
The Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash. ($550,000 added) and the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb. ($750,000 added) will be broadcast by ESPN, as will the 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“The PRCA is very pleased to offer our fans more television coverage of this great sport in 2010,” said PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman. “We look forward to a strong, successful partnership with In Country, as we continue to work very hard to take the sport of professional rodeo to the next level.”
In Country Television, based in Greenwood Village, Colo., is owned by Performance One Media. It began providing programming for outdoor enthusiasts this year on DISH Network (channel 230) and will be added to the Direct TV lineup in January.
“In Country Television is proud to be working with the PRCA to bring rodeo fans everywhere great coverage of the 2010 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Gold Tier events, the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo and the All American ProRodeo Championships,” said Michael Norton, Senior Vice President of In Country Television.
