2011 RODEOHOUSTON™ Goes Nationwide Live On Fox Sports Net

HOUSTON, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two-hour live coverage of the RODEOHOUSTON BP Super Series Championship (Saturday, March 19, 3:45 p.m. CDT) and the Cinch RODEOHOUSTON Super Shootout (Sunday, March 20, 3:30 p.m. CDT) will be aired on FOX Sports Net regional affiliates.

Both events will be broadcast on FOX Sports Houston, FOX Sports Southwest, and FOX Sports South, and will be available nationwide on DirecTV (channel 676) and DISH (channel 416) to satellite TV customers who subscribe to their respective service's sports package. Foxsportshouston.com also will continue to stream all rodeo action live now through March 20. Streaming is available for free. Live coverage and Internet streaming includes rodeo only, no concerts.

"The RODEOHOUSTON BP Super Series and the Cinch RODEOHOUSTON Super Shootout are our two biggest rodeo events," said Leroy Shafer, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ chief operating officer. "With these live broadcasts, we are able bring the sport of rodeo to a larger audience and spotlight these champion athletes. RODEOHOUSTON's total cash commitment to its athletes for 2011 exceeds $2 million, and with that much money on the line, these are definitely can't-miss events."

"We're excited to continue our partnership with RODEOHOUSTON," said FOX Sports Houston General Manager/General Sales Manager Steve McNair. "Combined with our live streaming on FoxSportsHouston.com, we're able to broaden our coverage of one of the most successful rodeos to a nationwide audience."

RODEOHOUSTON BP Super Series Championship — Saturday, March 19, 3:45 p.m.

The 2011 RODEOHOUSTON BP Super Series began March 1, and features invited championship contestants in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and women's barrel racing. The BP Super Series consists of five series, three rounds each, with eight contestants per event – except for women's barrel racing which has 10 contestants; two Semifinal Rounds with 10 contestants per each event; one Wild Card Round with 12 contestants per each event; and a Championship Round featuring 10 contestants per each event. With a total purse of $1,555,366, RODEOHOUSTON BP Super Series Champions walk away with at least a $50,000 payout.

Cinch RODEOHOUSTON Super Shootout: North America's Champions — Sunday, March 20, 3:30 p.m.

The Cinch RODEOHOUSTON Super Shootout: North America's Champions, is a ground-breaking new event for 2011. This invitation-only (competitors), one-night rodeo will feature champion athletes from the top 10 U.S. and Canadian rodeos competing in RODEOHOUSTON fan-favorite events — bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding and saddle bronc riding. With a total purse of $200,000, this event will be the richest one-day rodeo. RODEOHOUSTON has invited the top 10 contestants in each event — one in each of the four Super Shootout events from each of the top 10 North American rodeos (based primarily on total purse):

• Calgary Stampede – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, Wyo.
• Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo – Fort Worth, Texas
• Greeley Stampede – Greeley, Colo.
• National Western Stock Show – Denver, Colo.
• Pendleton Round-Up – Pendleton, Ore.
• Ponoka Stampede – Ponoka, Alberta, Canada
• Reno Rodeo – Reno, Nev.
• RODEOHOUSTON – Houston
• San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – San Antonio

2010 published world champions, who are not champions from the above rodeos, were invited to compete, as well.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $265 million to the youth of Texas. The 2011 Show runs March 1-20. For tickets and more information, visit www.rodeohouston.com.  

SOURCE Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo