Teton Ridge Shocks Western Sports World

This morning, Teton Ridge and Rural Media Group shocked and shook up the Western sports world by announcing that Teton Ridge would acquire Cowboy Channel, Cowgirl Channel, and Cowboy Channel+ from Rural Media Group.

This was stunning news to several, who probably read it in Forbes or across a given social media platform. This is close to the airing of the “Super Bowl,” the Wrangler National Finals in December, which airs on the Cowboy Channel and will remain airing there through 2028.

Let’s look at some of the facts that have so many people up in arms and gnashing their teeth about this sale and what will happen in the immediate future.

Will the WNFR coverage be changing to another channel? NO!

Will the Cowboy Channel, Cowgirl Channel, and Cowboy Channel+ still broadcast 600 or so rodeos? Yes!

Will folks be charged more to access the WNFR stream on Cowboy Channel+? No

Yes, Teton Ridge acquired these channels and the Cowboy Channel+, but everything is still the same regarding the format and the aim of these channels and the platform.

But rest easy, folks. Understand that Teton Ridge is NOT the villain some have portrayed the organization as. You can see for yourself by checking out the discussion of this sale from all of the parties involved here.

Yes, Teton Ridge acquired The American in 2021, and yes, there was a one-day delay in the Contender Regional Finals airing on FS1, and The American aired a week after it occurred last year. That was outside of Teton Ridge’s control. Oddly enough, it appears the 5.7 million viewers that tuned into Fox for that delayed broadcast showed why it should be aired live-live. And what do you think is happening next year? Fox is airing the entire event live across its Fox Sports network, and the championship round is airing live and in color on Fox.

So, to the ne’er do wellers who quickly point out that Teton Ridge has ruined The American since purchasing it in 2021. Have they really? They brought it to a prime-time sports network and got a prime-time network to air the championship round in the coming year. Yes, they have been a disruptor in Western sports as a whole, from The American, The American Performance Horseman, and Run for a Million. They are not looking to ruin anything in the Western sports world.

They are looking to highlight and improve things in the Western sports world and for the athletes competing in Western sports.

Don’t take my word for it. Look at their social media comments and posts on the topic; they are embracing this change of guard at Cowboy Channel et al.

Ask yourself why those directly impacted by the athletes and people involved in producing and making rodeos happen are not up in arms saying the sky is falling…are the ne’er do-wellers who apparently lurk in the shadows and take their knives out when announcements like this are made.

The future is bright for rodeo, and it’s a new era for Cowboy Channel, Cowgirl Channel, and Cowboy Channel +. Let’s embrace it for the bright future ahead.