ESPN Sells BASS Fishing Operation, More Changes Possibly Coming

by Milton KentFiled under: Sports Media, Sports Business and MediaESPN announced Tuesday that it has sold BASS to an investor group that includes the former host of a fishing show that aired on the channel.

ESPN will retain the broadcast rights to the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic, but sold the assets of the more-than-500,000-member bass angler organization, including three magazines and a website to a three-man group that includes Jerry McKinnis, who hosted "The Fishin' Hole" from 1980 to 2007.

ESPN, which purchased BASS in 2001, had announced plans earlier this year to de-emphasize its outdoor programming lineup, which currently occupies most of its weekend morning schedule on ESPN2.

Meanwhile, John Skipper, ESPN's senior vice president for content, said changes may be coming to ESPN Classic and ESPNEWS within the next month or two. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Commentsripstik mini bikes golf shop