 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | New Berlin, Wisconsin |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Outdoor Sportsman Group (Kroenke Sports & Entertainment) |
| Sister channels | Outdoor Channel World Fishing Network Altitude |
| History | |
| Launched | April 1, 2003 (2003-04-01) |
| Links | |
| Website | thesportsmanchannel.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| RaiPlay | Channel 1 (SD) |
| Streaming media | |
| Service(s) | DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV |
Sportsman Channel is an American sports-oriented digital cable and satellite television network owned by the Outdoor Sportsman Group subsidiary of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The channel is dedicated to programming about outdoor sports, including hunting, shooting and fishing.
As of November 2023[update], Sportsman is available to approximately 12,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2015 peak of 34,000,000 households.[1]
The channel was launched on April 1, 2003, and was founded by Muskego, Wisconsin businessmen C. Michael Cooley and Todd D. Hansen. In June 2007, the channel was purchased by the InterMedia Outdoor Holdings group, a division of private equity group InterMedia Partners.[2]
In March 2009, Sportsman Channel appointed InterMedia Outdoor Executive Vice President Willy Burkhardt as the channel's president.[3]
Then, in 2014, Sportsman Channel & its parent company, InterMedia Outdoor Holdings, were acquired by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, resulting in the company's rename to Outdoor Sportsman Group.[citation needed]
Programming on Sportsman Channel as of 2014[update] includes various shows pertaining to hunting (both by archery and through firearms), fishing and firearms. An hour-long condensed version of Cam & Co., a news magazine/talk radio program produced by the National Rifle Association of America for SiriusXM Patriot, airs each weeknight.[4] Most other shows on the channel air in half-hour timeslots. Sportsman Channel also airs infomercials during the overnight hours.[citation needed]
In September 2009, the channel announced it would carry up to 100 original programs on its schedule starting in the fourth quarter of 2009.[5] In March 2014, the channel premiered Amazing America with Sarah Palin, an outdoor program hosted by the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate; the program was renewed for a second season slated to air in early 2015.[citation needed]
Sportsman Channel HD is a high definition simulcast feed of Sportsman Channel, that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format. On January 19, 2010, the channel announced it would launch an HD simulcast feed the following week on January 25 of that year.[6] In February 2010, Dish Network became the first provider to carry the channel's HD feed.[7] The HD feed is now available on various providers including AT&T, Cablevision, and Comcast.[citation needed]
DirecTV began carrying the channel on January 21, 2009.[8][9] AT&T U-verse added it on April 8, 2009. Dish Network started carrying Sportsman Channel on February 10, 2010.[7]
On September 1, 2015, Verizon FiOS removed the channel from the lineup. Spectrum removed the channel from their lineup nationwide on October 30, 2017.[citation needed]
The Sportsman Channel was once available on some broadcast stations. However, when it reached a carriage agreement deal with DirecTV in January 2009, giving it national coverage, it became a cable and satellite only channel.[8][9]
| Call-sign | Channel (analog/digital) | City of license/Market | Owner | Current affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLLZ-LP | 12/none | Traverse City, Michigan | P & P Cable Holdings | MyNetworkTV (primary) / America One (secondary) | TSC programming formerly aired during the overnight hours, was replaced with Retro Television Network |
| WMKG-CA | 38/none | Muskegon, Michigan | Kelley Enterprises | FamilyNet (primary) / Pursuit Channel (secondary) | Now affiliate of My Family TV |
| WHSV-DT2 and -DT4 | none/3.2 and 3.4 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Gray Television | Fox | Removed, formerly aired overnight |
| KJLR-LP | 28/none | Little Rock, Arkansas | Cowsert Family, LLC | AMGTV | Removed, formerly carried as a secondary affiliation |
| KDCG-LP | none/22.1 | Opelousas, Louisiana | Acadiana Cable Advertising | Retro Television Network | Removed, formerly maintained a dual affiliation with America One; also operates as a Class A digital signal |
| KSDI-LP | 33/none | Fresno, California | Cocola Broadcasting | Pursuit Channel/AMGTV | Removed, replaced with Pursuit Channel |
| KXGN-TV | none/5 | Glendive, Montana | The Marks Group | CBS (primary) / NBC (secondary) | Removed, formerly aired during the overnight hours |
| KXII-DT2 | none/12.2 | Sherman, Texas | Gray Television | MyNetworkTV | Formerly carried as a secondary affiliation, removed |
| KXPX-CA | 14/none | Corpus Christi, Texas | GH Broadcasting | Retro Television Network | Former affiliate, replaced with Retro Television Network |
| WONS-LP | 25/none | Olean, New York | Choice Television | America One | Primary affiliation after 2006. The station became WVTT-CA in 2012. |
| W43BR | 43/none | Baraboo, Wisconsin | Baraboo Broadcasting | America One | Former TSC/America One dual-affiliate, now full-time America One affiliate |
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