ProRodeo Sports News -- May 24, 2024

MEMORIAM 1953-2024

Patrick Gottsch Photo courtesy Patrick Gottsch Patrick Gottsch’s vision with The Cowboy Channel and landmark TV deal was a huge milestone in the growth of the PRCA. He passed away May 18.

Patrick Gottsch, Founder of The Cowboy Channel, passes away at age 70

BY TRACY RENCK B ack in 2017, the PRCA didn’t have much of a TV presence to speak of. That changed through visionary Patrick Gottsch. Gottsch, a well-known figure in the ag industry, began doing things with the PRCA seven years ago, and his goal was to put the Western Lifestyle on TV every day, all day, and that’s what he did with the inception of The Cowboy Channel in 2019. That same year, the PRCA and Rural Media Group announced a multi-year agreement to move the National Finals Rodeo to The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV beginning in 2020. Gottsch’s vision and the landmark TV deal became a huge milestone in the growth of the PRCA because the NFR could be seen by millions of people live simultaneously on two national TV networks. Gottsch, Founder of Rural Media Group, Inc., parent company to RFD-TV, The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel and Rural Radio 147, passed away May 18. He was 70. “The PRCA sends our thoughts and prayers to the Gottsch family and our partners at Rural Media Group,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “Patrick was a lifelong supporter of the cowboy way and was integral in bringing

ProRodeo Sports News 5/24/2024

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