PRORODEO Sports News - November 22, 2024

SHORT ROUND Teton Ridge acquires The Cowboy Channel Changing Hands

T eton Ridge, the premier brand at the intersection of Western sports and entertainment, announced Nov. 20 its acquisition of The Cowboy Channel, the leading network for Western sports, along with the Cowgirl Channel and The Cowboy Channel+, a live streaming and on-demand service. Acquired from Rural Media Group, a global leader in agriculture and rural lifestyle media and entertainment, this strategic move establishes Teton Ridge as the largest rights holder in the Western sports sector and reinforces its dedication to elevating the reach and impact of Western sports across the world. “The partnership with RMG and The Cowboy Channel brought rodeo to living rooms across the world in a manner never seen,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “Rodeo is a showcase of Western lifestyle, and we are excited to work with Teton Ridge on the continued evolution of promoting our athletes and communities to millions of fans.” “This is a defining moment that solidifies Teton Ridge as an authority in Western sports and storytelling,” said Deirdre Lester, CEO of Teton Ridge. “We are committed to honoring the deep traditions of this sport while driving its growth and shaping the future of Western sports for generations to come.” As part of the acquisition, Teton Ridge retains an exclusive licensing agreement with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), covering more than 600 sanctioned rodeos domestically and internationally including the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Additionally, The Cowboy Channel has distribution agreements with major cable providers such as DISH, DIRECTV, Comcast, Cox, Charter, and Altice, among others. The Cowgirl Channel is currently exclusive to DISH. Raquel Gottsch Koehler, Co-Owner of Rural Media Group and daughter of the late founder and media visionary Patrick Gottsch, believes Teton Ridge is a perfect new owner for her father’s company. Legendary tie-down roper Ernie Taylor died Wednesday at his home in Hugo, Okla. He was 81. A lifelong native of Hugo, the legendary tie-down roper represented his community as an eight-time NFR qualifier and 1973 Rodeo Cowboys Association Tie-Down Roping World Champion. Taylor also served as a mentor and friend to some of the most prolific cowboys in PRORODEO history, including ProRodeo Hall of Famer Roy Cooper. “He was the very best friend I ever had,” ProRodeo Hall of Fame tie-down roper Roy Cooper said. “I looked up to him. He’s the Oklahoma Outlaw. And he had the very best horse in the world. Even today, there’s no better roping horse in the world than Scorpion.” Taylor served in the United States Army, and attended

“Our father built The Cowboy Channel to celebrate and elevate Western sports, and Teton Ridge’s commitment to preserving the authenticity of the Western lifestyle aligns with that vision. We pass the torch to a team that shares our deep passion for rodeo and Western sports,” Gottsch Koehler said. Teton Ridge was founded in 2019 with strategic funding from investors, including acclaimed investor and entrepreneur Thomas Tull, founder of TWG and founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners Mark Walter, Jim Breyer, and the Lee Bass Family Office, all of whom shared a vision to expand the reach and impact of Western sports. The Cowboy Channel, founded in 2017 by Gottsch, pioneered 24 hour rodeo and Western sports broadcasting, connecting tens of millions of viewers to live events, documentaries, and year-round coverage. The Cowgirl Channel launched in 2023 to further expand programming by providing a platform to highlight women in Western sports. Following Gottsch’s passing in May, his daughters, Raquel Gottsch Koehler and Gatsby Gottsch Solheim, have led Rural Media Group. Harding Simmons University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. • Legendary stock contractor Donald “Donnie” Hutsell of Ritzville, Wash., died on Tuesday. He was 80. Hutsell was a co-owner of Flying 5 Rodeo Company and Big Bend Rodeo Company with Walter “Sonny” Riley. “One of my dad’s biggest deals was to build up the crowds at these rodeos, and give them as much entertainment as he possibly could,” Donnie Hutsell’s son Chad Hutsel said. During Hutsell’s tenure, Big Bend Rodeo and Flying 5 Rodeo produced some of the best bucking stock in the sport, including five PRCA Bulls of the Year, a Bareback Horse of the Year and three Saddle Bronc Horses of the Year. Big Bend Rodeo’s Spring Fling was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

ProRodeo legends Taylor, Hutsell left mark on the sport

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2024

ProRodeo.com

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