How is this new MLF going to work?

[Pierce LaFleur]

I'm still confused how this MLF deal is going to work, does anybody have any idea?

[hoosierbass07]

What new deal are you talking about?  

 

Wow, I just looked it up.  So they are really really taking the fight to the Bass Master/FLW tours?  Go MLF! 

[hoosierbass07]

So I just spent the last few hours looking up this new MLF series.  Man, where was I when this news broke last year?  lol.  I've been watching some youtube videos of the Pro's announcing they are going with MLF.  So weird and cool, like watching West Point officers picking the North or the South in 1860.  lol.  I think Scott Martin is ticked.   Watched his video about him staying in FLW and then saying he wasn't asked to join the new MLF series.  Yeah, he's ticked.  lol.  Got to love it!  Got to love it!  Bring it on MLF! 

[Hawkeye21]

I'm surprised you guys haven't heard about this.

[Deleted account]

How is this new MLF going to work?

 

I'm thinking a bunch of guys are going to put on some loud shirts, jump on their overpowered boats and try to catch the most green (and occasionally brown) fish, so same as it ever was...

 

 

 

 

[Crestliner2008]

I haven't heard anything about it either. When the 2018 season ended, I just stopped watching for it. What exactly is "new" about it? I watched the opener on Saturday and it appeared the same as usual.

[Chance_Taker4]

3 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

I haven't heard anything about it either. When the 2018 season ended, I just stopped watching for it. What exactly is "new" about it? I watched the opener on Saturday and it appeared the same as usual.

Its a new series that now competes with BASS and FLW. Look up the Bass Pro Tour. MLF has now taken all the top talent (except Scott Martin) from both series and started a new Tour this year. They will still have the old MLF Cups as usual.

[the reel ess]

9 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

So I just spent the last few hours looking up this new MLF series.  Man, where was I when this news broke last year?  lol.  I've been watching some youtube videos of the Pro's announcing they are going with MLF.  So weird and cool, like watching West Point officers picking the North or the South in 1860.  lol.  I think Scott Martin is ticked.   Watched his video about him staying in FLW and then saying he wasn't asked to join the new MLF series.  Yeah, he's ticked.  lol.  Got to love it!  Got to love it!  Bring it on MLF! 

He probably wasn't asked because it's known that he's too tied up in FLW. Viva competition!

 

Well, I just read the list of those who have decided to join and almost all have been in one of the tourneys I've seen. I don't recall seeing Martin in any of them. Maybe that has been his choice up to now.

[Crestliner2008]

3 minutes ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

Its a new series that now competes with BASS and FLW. Look up the Bass Pro Tour. MLF has now taken all the top talent (except Scott Martin) from both series and started a new Tour this year. They will still have the old MLF Cups as usual.

Where is this broadcasted from? Is it on the Outdoor Network like the regular MLF is?

[the reel ess]

After reading up on it, the top 20 places pay more and it seems the board consists of pros. They claim it will be more family friendly. I guess that means more down time for the pros to spend with families. So I guess these guys are free to compete in the others if they choose. But it will certainly put a dent in the talent competing in FLW and BASS on the average.

[12poundbass]

 

Sorry guys I couldn't resist!

[hoosierbass07]

It all comes down to this.   ESPN coverage of BASS Master is horrible.  They air the tournaments months later.  You build up expectations for the tournaments then find you have to remember its going to be broadcast a month and half later, Sunday morning.  Then you have remember is it ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPN Classic, or maybe their college sports network.  With spring getting closer and closer you forget ESPN is going to finally air the tournaments, then totally forget about them.  That means you missed the tournaments you originally had interest in seeing.  FLW is as bad - what cable network(if any) are they on this year?  That's the question you ask every year.  

 

MLF is easy - every Saturday afternoon for two hours on the same network.  

 

I'm just surprised all the big names went with MLF.  I know MLF is the number one show on the Outdoor Network, but is it really that high in the ratings to justify a 100% tournament series?  Must be.  

 

Even Jacob Wheeler is going and didn't he just make it to Elites not too long ago?  That's got to say something about Bass Master.  

[J Francho]

Already have 20 pages of discussion:

 

 

[Koz]

3 hours ago, the reel ess said:

After reading up on it, the top 20 places pay more and it seems the board consists of pros. They claim it will be more family friendly. I guess that means more down time for the pros to spend with families. So I guess these guys are free to compete in the others if they choose. But it will certainly put a dent in the talent competing in FLW and BASS on the average.

 

You're correct about that as the schedule works around the major family holidays. One other important point is that MLF does not have any entry fees.

[J Francho]

13 minutes ago, Koz said:

One other important point is that MLF does not have any entry fees.

Incorrect.  Entry fees are actually a bit higher than Elites.  See thread I linked to above for breakdown, nad how this played out.

Wait, no fees in 2019, in response to the BASS deal.

[Landis Carrier]

I love the MLF! It make fishing exciting to watch on TV! I even got my girlfriend hooked on it. Seems like the pro's love it too! 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Incorrect.

Sorry! I got that wrong - forgot about the change.  It was going to be $48K.  BASS is actually paying Elite anglers $500 to fish.  There's a guaranteed payout, and a $20K reduction.  Anglers do have to pay up front though.

[Deleted account]

19 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

It all comes down to this.   ESPN coverage of BASS Master is horrible.  They air the tournaments months later.  You build up expectations for the tournaments then find you have to remember its going to be broadcast a month and half later, Sunday morning.  Then you have remember is it ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPN Classic, or maybe their college sports network.  With spring getting closer and closer you forget ESPN is going to finally air the tournaments, then totally forget about them.  That means you missed the tournaments you originally had interest in seeing.  FLW is as bad - what cable network(if any) are they on this year?  That's the question you ask every year.  

 

MLF is easy - every Saturday afternoon for two hours on the same network.  

 

I'm just surprised all the big names went with MLF.  I know MLF is the number one show on the Outdoor Network, but is it really that high in the ratings to justify a 100% tournament series?  Must be.  

 

Even Jacob Wheeler is going and didn't he just make it to Elites not too long ago?  That's got to say something about Bass Master.  

The MLF is "employee owned" I don't have any specific information as to their TV deal, but It probably is something between buying airtime, and sharing resources and profits. I know it may not be obvious here, but bass fishing isn't really in the main public's consciousness. The MLF is basically disgruntled employees opening up their own shop. I wish them luck, but not sure where the $ is going to come from unless they turn it into a reality show. Bass fishing on TV is not going to make $ for anyone, and that is the bottom line.

[Chance_Taker4]

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 11:34 AM, Crestliner2008 said:

Where is this broadcasted from? Is it on the Outdoor Network like the regular MLF is?

Original airings will be on Discovery channel and reruns on Sportsman Channel and CBS Sports channels.

[hoosierbass07]

4 hours ago, reason said:

I know it may not be obvious here, but bass fishing isn't really in the main public's consciousness. The MLF is basically disgruntled employees opening up their own shop. I wish them luck, but not sure where the $ is going to come from unless they turn it into a reality show. Bass fishing on TV is not going to make $ for anyone, and that is the bottom line.

 

  I don't disagree with any of that.  But I'm viewing this as a TV fishing fan.  MLF is fun and on every Saturday during the heart of winter.  But yeah, bass fishing is not even in the same universe as baseball, football, basketball, college sports, hockey, etc...   Might be more popular than professional target archery though.  lol.  

 

Since so many of the Bass Master guys left, surely that says something about Bass Master.  

[Logan S]

On 1/8/2019 at 8:36 AM, reason said:

Bass fishing on TV is not going to make $ for anyone, and that is the bottom line.

I think they are hoping it will become one of those novelty-type popular shows like Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, etc....Something you wouldn't think would be popular, but somehow catches on.  

 

They know they have the bass fishing audience, we already follow it....Even guys like me that don't like the MLF/BPT format or presentation at all are still going to follow - How can we not when 90% of the top fisherman are fishing it?  They are hoping to tap into that 'Deadliest Catch Audience' that will follow along despite not really caring about bass fishing.  I don't care if those people watch or even know bass fishing exists, but their views turn into money for the MLF owners - Which includes many of the anglers that left the other tours. 

 

Not hard to see why so many left, it's a potential cash cow.  Even if it flops the big names will still be big and can go back to the other tours.  Not much to lose for the big guns.  

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

I think they are hoping it will become one of those novelty-type popular shows like Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, etc....Something you wouldn't think would be popular, but somehow catches on.  

 

They know they have the bass fishing audience, we already follow it....Even guys like me that don't like the MLF/BPT format or presentation at all are still going to follow - How can we not when 90% of the top fisherman are fishing it?  They are hoping to tap into that 'Deadliest Catch Audience' that will follow along despite not really caring about bass fishing.  I don't care if those people watch or even know bass fishing exists, but their views turn into money for the MLF owners - Which includes many of the anglers that left the other tours. 

 

Not hard to see why so many left, it's a potential cash cow.  Even if it flops the big names will still be big and can go back to the other tours.  Not much to lose for the big guns.  

I agree that they are thinking of expanding the audience and appeal, I just don't see it working. 

Now the going back to the tour they told to beat it, now that's a reality show with mass appeal.

[Arlo Smithereen]

MLF has been going on for several years and is quite popular, so I'd say it's already working. As far as the BPT tour goes, it's something new and different that I'm looking forward to. Most people who don't like it complain that they like the 5 biggest fish format better. To each their own, I like watching both and am glad there is more fishing to watch. MLF/BPT is aiming to attract fans who aren't that familiar with tournament fishing, who would be entertained by watching nonstop action for an hour. I have a hard time believing they would have stolen as many Elite anglers as they did, if the anglers didn't believe this would work.