January 18, 2012
By Dylan Polk
The network's escalation can be attributed to broad based growth across all of its distribution partners, including a combination of new launches and migrations to digital basic. Sportsman Channel is carried on DIRECTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon FiOS, Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Suddenlink and numerous other operators.
"Crossing the 30 million mark is a great milestone for Sportsman Channel and the millions of American sportsmen and women we represent," said Gavin Harvey, CEO of Sportsman Channel. "We have our sights on greater growth ahead, and our momentum is a reflection of our value as the only national TV channel that is 100 percent devoted to the 80 million Americans who hunt, shoot and fish.
Distributors are responding to Sportsman's powerful appeal to sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts, one of the country's largest vertical markets. Sportsman Channel has more hours of hunting, shooting and fishing programming on the air each week than any other channel. In addition, the network offers an HD channel, extensive video on demand content, and the most aggressive multi-media marketing and promotion in its category.
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After premiering 75 new series in 2011, in the first quarter of 2012 alone Sportsman Channel is premiering 29 new series — all of them 100 percent shot and mastered in stunning HD. The line-up of new programming includes best-in-class original productions that bring a new level of quality and story-telling to the genre, such as: Dropped: Project Alaska, Shell Shocked! with Patrick Flanigan; MeatEater with Steven Rinella; NRA's Guns & Gold, a reality show from the National Rifle Association ; and Outlanders Limited Draw, with Huntley Ritter. The network also has more than 60 returning series giving Sportsman Channel viewers a total of nearly 500 new episodes in the first quarter alone.
The combination of a strong brand, passionate customer base, best-in-class programming and increasing distribution has resulted in robust ad sales growth for Sportsman Channel. The channel is attracting prestige brands for advertising, sponsorship, and product placement from both the endemic and non-endemic arenas.
