CELEBRATION, Fla. — With 51 of the world’s best anglers, coupled with seasoned hosts, on-the-water reporters, and decorated BASS pro analysts who have a combined 114 Top 10 finishes, 24 victories and just more than $3.2 million in earnings – ESPN and ESPN2 will present the most comprehensive and nail-biting coverage of the CITGO Bassmaster Classic in its history.
“We’re thrilled about this year’s roster of talent that will bring up-to the-minute coverage of the Classic to fans at home,” said Christine Godleski, vice president and general manager of ESPN Outdoors. “We’re starting the season off right with the Classic kick-off and plan to use this momentum to jump start us into the season ahead.
“We’ve dedicated an incredible amount of time and talent to bass fishing’s most major event and we expect to increase that commitment with the Majors this year.”
The 2006 Classic boasts 14 hours of live and same-day coverage, including live, on-site broadcasts of BassCenter, offering news, information and updated standings. And, fans overseas won’t miss any action as ESPN International will broadcast the Classic in more than six million households in 53 countries including sub-Saharan Africa, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Additionally, fishing enthusiasts can log on to www.Bassmaster.com for tournament coverage, including live weigh-ins, a real-time leaderboard, behind-the-scenes chats with the pros, stories from the front lines, photos, a schedule of events and more. ESPN360 will also show live coverage of the Day 1 weigh-in, and BASS Insider members have an all-access pass to view each day’s weigh-in live.
ESPN Outdoors Radio and ESPNEWS also will feature several Classic qualifiers throughout the month of February.
ESPN, the parent company of BASS, is devoting a sizeable portion of its resources to Classic XXXVI. A crew of more than 250 people and more than 30 cameras will cover the action on Lake Tohopekaliga, the daily weigh-ins and the Classic ESPN Outdoors Expo presented by Under Armour at the Orange County Convention Center.
And in terms of on-air personalities, ESPN is bringing in a wealth of talent.
Ron Franklin, Jay Crawford, Elite Series angler Shaw Grigsby and BassCenter’s Byron Velvick will handle the weigh-in coverage and analysis. At the Classic ESPN Outdoors Expo presented by Under Armour, Tommy Sanders will host with analytical help coming from Jerry McKinnis and Denny Brauer, an Elite Series angler and the BASS all-time money winner. Robbie Floyd, angler Kim Bain and NFL veteran Mark May will cover on-the-water reports.
Additionally, other BassCenter crew members, John Kernan and Trey Reid, will play instrumental roles and BASS analyst Mark Zona will be on hand to lend his witty and irreverent brand of debate to the event.
2006 CITGO BASSMASTER CLASSIC PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Air Date/Time
Network
Production Elements
Friday, Feb. 24
7:30 – 9 p.m.
ESPN2
Weigh-In, Day 1, Orange County Convention Center
Saturday, Feb. 25
7 – 8 a.m.
ESPN2
Live BassCenter, Kissimmee Lakefront Park
Saturday, Feb. 25
8 – 11 a.m.
ESPN2
Live Tournament Coverage
Saturday, Feb. 25
11 – 11:30 a.m.
ESPN2
Live BassCenter, Kissimmee Lakefront Park
Saturday, Feb. 25
4:30 – 6 p.m.
ESPN
Weigh-In, Day 2, Orange County Convention Center
Sunday, Feb. 26
7- 8 a.m.
ESPN2
Live BassCenter, Kissimmee Lakefront Park
Sunday, Feb. 26
8- 10:30 a.m.
ESPN2
Live Tournament Coverage
Sunday, Feb. 26
5:30 – 7 p.m
ESPN
Weigh-In, Day 3, Orange County Convention Center
The 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic will be hosted by the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry’s widest array of services and support to its nearly 550,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com/classic.
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