Hank Parker, Larry Nixon join ‘FLW Outdoors’ TV

New faces, new format to accompany 2003 TV season

BENTON, Ky. – FLW Outdoors has added two of bass fishing’s heavy hitters to its television lineup for 2003. Company executives announced Monday that Hank Parker and Larry Nixon have joined the “FLW Outdoors” show, which is broadcast during prime time to 45 million Outdoor Life Network (OLN) subscribers.

Boasting legendary professional-fishing credentials, the duo brings nearly 50 years of competitive-fishing experience to the show. Both men will lend their fishing expertise to viewers during extensive on-the-water segments scheduled to air throughout the program’s 28-episode season, which runs Jan. 25 to July 5, 2003, with special championship episodes airing in September.

Parker is a two-time Classic champion and host of one of the nation’s highest-rated outdoor programs, “Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine,” which in 2003 will begin its 17th season on TNN. Parker’s fishing career started in 1978, and, during the next 13 years, he finished in the money in more than 76 percent of the 120-plus bass tournaments he entered. Perhaps his popularity among the nation’s 77 million outdoor enthusiasts was summed up best by sportscaster Greg Gumble when he introduced Parker to a national TV audience as “the rod and reel answer to Michael Jordan.”

Parker’s goal has always been to promote the wholesome family-oriented aspects of fishing and other outdoor activities. “I’m thrilled to join the `FLW Outdoors’ cast and to be part of such a well-respected company in the fishing industry,” Parker said. “My mission is to bring the personalities of the world’s top anglers to life and show the nation’s fishing enthusiasts some of the intense preparation professional anglers go through before each tournament.”

Nixon hit the bass-fishing tournament trail in 1977 and was the first professional angler to break the $1 million mark in career earnings. He has qualified for 22 Classics. Nixon is also a five-time Wal-Mart FLW Tour championship qualifier with nearly $460,000 in FLW Tour earnings since joining the tour in 1998. He has earned six FLW Tour top-10 finishes, including two victories. For the last three years, Nixon has hosted his own fishing show, “Larry Nixon’s Fishing Lessons,” on OLN.

Nixon has actively promoted fishery conservation throughout his career, and today he ranks as one of the most competitive anglers on tour. “I’m going to shed some light on tournament-winning techniques and presentations,” Nixon said. “Fishing is one of the greatest sports in the world. It’s fairly easy to get started but almost impossible to master. My goal is to help anglers nationwide become better at their craft.”

The Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship to be held Sept. 11-14 on Cross Lake in Shreveport, La., will be broadcast on OLN at 7 p.m. EST Sept. 22, 7 p.m. EST Sept. 24 and 7 p.m. EST Sept. 26. “FLW Outdoors” coverage of the EverStart Series and Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit championships will air later this year.

Produced by Dempsey Film Group in Little Rock, Ark., “FLW Outdoors” features an all-new format for 2003. It is now an on-location, on-the-water program featuring the techniques and personalities of the top pros in fishing. Parker and Nixon will join the existing “FLW Outdoors” cast that includes Carlton Wing, Taylor Carr and Charlie Evans.

OLN is a leader in outdoor and adventure programming. The company anticipates serving 55 million viewers by year’s end. FLW Outdoors is the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing. This season the company will operate 170 tournaments, awarding anglers as much as $22 million through the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit and Ranger M1.

Sponsors of the 2002 season are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.

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