News & Notes From the Rodeo Trail, March 27
The Cowboy Channel is proud to announce the creation of a separate feed for Spanish-language viewers providing full coverage of all performances of the PRCA’s Top 10 rodeos. Spanish language productions for Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, San Angelo, Reno, Calgary, Cheyenne, Salinas, Pendleton, and the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas will now be offered as part of a monthly or yearly subscription to the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app. The first live broadcast feed of The Cowboy Channel Deportes will start on June 15th with the Reno Rodeo. The Cowboy Channel Deportes will also be offered on a regional basis to Spanish-language cable and broadcast channels to support these rodeos and to help develop new fan support in their respective local markets.
“Our #1 goal at The Cowboy Channel has always been to grow the fan base, and viewership, for rodeo and western sports”, stated Patrick Gottsch, Founder of The Cowboy Channel. “The Hispanic community in the United States, and throughout all North & South America, are deeply involved in the western lifestyle. We believe that The Cowboy Channel can help bridge this small gap by producing a year-long Spanish-language feed so that these fans can now follow the regular ProRodeo season from start to finish, growing attendance and interest for all rodeos across the country.”
“The PRCA will be able to expand our fan base, and audience with the addition of the Spanish language feed for select PRCA rodeos broadcast on The Cowboy Channel,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “The excitement of rodeo transcends any language, and now our Spanish-speaking fans will be able to fully experience the great sport of ProRodeo.”
In partnership with Mexicanal, the veteran Mexican rodeo broadcast team of Luis Fernando Zepeda de Alba and Roberto Valdez will anchor these broadcasts from The Cowboy Channel studios in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Each broadcast will consist of a pre-show, just like the one produced on The Cowboy Channel prior to each Top 10 rodeo performance. The Cowboy Channel Deportes will simply be an additional option of the various “live” feeds available on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app and archived so viewers can access any of these Spanish-language broadcasts anytime throughout the year. And with this new feed also allows the opportunity for Spanish-language commercials to be inserted into the commercial breaks, specifically on The Cowboy Channel Deportes.
“Mexicanal is proud to be a part of this very important initiative with The Cowboy Channel, bringing western sports programming in the Spanish language to the millions of Hispanics throughout the United States”, Demian Torres-Bohl, President of Mexicanal said. “As a long-time supporter and producer of Mexican style bull-riding programming, Jaripeo, as well as Mexican Rodeo, Charreria, Mexicanal is looking forward to working with The Cowboy Channel to infuse some entertainment into the live broadcasts of the top rodeos from the PRCA and the Wrangler NFR. It is an honor for Mexicanal’s production team to be working alongside their friends and partners at The Cowboy Channel with Luis Fernando Zepeda de Alba and Roberto Valdez, who have been working with Mexicanal for many years in popular shows like Estrellas del Jaripeo and Ahi Viene el Toro. I am sure this will be the first of many very successful collaborations between our two companies.”
“We believe this is only the start for expanding the Spanish language feeds for several of our western lifestyle and sporting events,” added Raquel Koehler, Chief Communications Officer for The Cowboy Channel. “The western & cowboy culture knows no borders and was greatly responsible for settling both North & South America. The American horse came from Mexico. Whether he is called a Gaucho in Argentina and Uruguay, or a Vaquero in Mexico, the cowboy has an enduring image now growing in popularity worldwide.”
Tickets for the 2023 NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, July 11-15 in Colorado Springs, Colo., are on sale online.
The NFR Open powered by RAM, will be one of the biggest rodeos of the 2023
PRORODEO season with $1 million in payouts to contestants, livestock and other PRCA members.
More than 200 top contestants from each of the U.S. and Canadian Circuits, plus national champions from Mexico will be competing in Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Breakaway Roping, Tie-Down Roping, Barrel Racing and Bull Riding, culminating with a semifinals and finals on Saturday, July 15 when the national circuit champions will be crowned.
“The NFR Open is one of the most significant rodeos of the year,” said Tom Glause, CEO of the PRCA. “Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and the Colorado Springs community made this an outstanding rodeo in 2022 and we are excited to build upon that momentum in 2023.”
The NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo will take place July 11-15, with evening performances Tuesday through Saturday, and matinee performances Friday and Saturday. The Tuesday evening and Friday matinee performances are new additions to the lineup to satisfy demand for more performances after last year’s sell outs. Evening performances will start at 7 p.m. with matinee performances starting at noon and parking is free.
Mayor John Suthers added, “It’s our pleasure to welcome people from all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico to Colorado Springs – Olympic City USA as we celebrate the exciting and fast-growing sport of professional rodeo. The NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo brings together the very best athletes in the sport, while celebrating the second oldest event in our community. Colorado Springs is the perfect place for this ‘can’t miss’ event.”
Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Board President, Scott Johnson, said, “This year’s Rodeo is going to be incredible, with the top talent in the sport coming here to compete. The addition of two performances gives families and working folks more opportunities to come enjoy this with us. And from what I hear, the national champs from Mexico are coming to take home the title. It is going to be another great one.”
Tickets are on sale online now at pikespeakorbust.org and sellouts are expected.
The 2023 spring judging seminar registrations are open, form is below. All PRCA members are welcome.
Courtesy of PRCA