GEICO to Support Major League Fishing, Appearing on Outdoor Channel

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to expand its already formidable presence in the powersports market, GEICO has announced a partnership with Major League Fishing, a newly formed competition featuring 24 of the world's top professional bass anglers.

Major League Fishing offers made-for-television events designed to be more exciting and dramatic than conventional bass fishing tournaments. Utilizing real-time leaderboards in each boat and unlimited fish counts, the format forces competitors to keep up with their rivals or face elimination. Adding to the drama is the lack of any practice time or advance scouting, as venues are revealed at the last moment.

"It's the most intense fishing I've ever experienced," said multi-time world champion Kevin VanDam. "The pressure is incredible and it basically starts as soon as the first angler catches the first fish of the day. I truly believe this is the future of professional bass fishing."

Pros joining VanDam in the inaugural event include Denny Brauer, Shaw Grigsby, Skeet Reese, Mike Iaconelli, Gary Klein and Alton Jones. The field features seven Bassmaster Classic champions and eight Bassmaster Anglers of the Year.

"GEICO is extremely pleased to offer sponsorship support to Major League Fishing. GEICO has a track record of supporting powersports, and we believe Major League Fishing is bringing fresh ideas and renewed energy to the traditional sport of competitive bass fishing. Major League Fishing has a tremendous future, and GEICO is delighted to be part of that growth," said Ted Ward, GEICO's vice president of marketing.

Major League Fishing was devised in 2009 when a group of 14 anglers, led by Klein and Boyd Duckett, met to discuss the future of their sport. Together, they agreed the sport of bass fishing needed to be enhanced and that the behind-the-scenes drama and the diverse personalities of the anglers needed to be exposed.

The anglers also wanted fans to be more involved in the tournaments, as well as their lives, by bringing them "on board" during fishing times for an up-close look at how a pro angler competes during an event.

Outdoor Channel, America's Leader In Outdoor TV, is the exclusive Major League Fishing media partner. The network features a complete spectrum of compelling, informative entertainment on the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, including authentic hunting, fishing, shooting, off-road, adventure and conservation programs.

Please visit www.geicogarage.com for more information.

About MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING
MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING, a new professional bass fishing tournament series, is a partnership of 24 of the world's most talented, influential professional bass anglers and Outdoor Channel. For more information about the new game, with new rules and no limits, visit: www.majorleaguefishing.com.

About Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc.
Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUTD) owns and operates Outdoor Channel, America's Leader In Outdoor TV, and Winnercomm Inc., an Emmy Award winning production and interactive company. Outdoor Channel offers programming that captures the excitement of hunting, fishing, shooting, off-road motorsports, adventure and the Western lifestyle and can be viewed on multiple platforms including high definition, video-on-demand, as well as on a dynamic broadband website. Winnercomm Inc. is one of America's leading and highest quality producers of live sporting events and sports series for cable and broadcast television. Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. also owns and operates the SkyCam and CableCam aerial camera systems which provide dramatic overhead camera angles for major sports events, including college and NFL football. For more information, please visit www.outdoorchannel.com.

SOURCE Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc.