With the smell of spring in the air in parts of the country, Major League Fishing (MLF) is gearing up to start its 2021 season on the heels of a shortened-yet-successful 2020 campaign.
MLF proved to be a dominating force in 2020 with towering competitive bass fishing programming and ratings to prove it. With fans seeking content on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network and others, MLF eclipsed all competitive bass fishing programming on television and easily stands alone as cable’s most-watched fishing competition.
“Despite a year in which no one could have imagined or prepared for, Major League Fishing once again proved to be the overwhelming choice of bass fishing fans wanting to watch top-caliber competition on television,” Major League Fishing President and CEO Jim Wilburn said. “With the travails of 2020 almost behind us, we look to 2021 and a competitive season that will continue to rev up viewers and fans of competitive bass fishing.”
Highlights from 2020 ratings include:
> With nearly than 1,300 combined hours of television coverage during 2020, Major League Fishing, which airs on cable partners Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Discovery Channel and CBS Sports, has accounted for a staggering 80 percent of all viewership of professional competitive bass fishing programs on cable television for the year.
> Fans of Major League Fishing seek it out regardless of the network. World Fishing Network delivered 12 percent more average audience than its top competitor’s elite series on Pursuit Channel during 2020, despite having just one-ninth of the distribution.
> Based on Nielsen in 2020, Major League Fishing’s household impressions on Outdoor Channel Saturday’s 2-4 p.m. time period surpassed its main competitor’s live telecasts on ESPN 2 by 6 percent, despite having nearly one-third the distribution.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour kicks off its 2021 season this weekend at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas. Competition runs Sunday through Friday.
