OPTIMA Batteries®, a leading high-performance automotive and marine battery company, today announced its sponsorship of Major League Fishing, a professional angling league that produces high-intensity, competitive bass fishing events developed in partnership with 24 of the world’s top anglers and Outdoor Channel.
“We’re in the process of creating a Major League Fishing product that brings excitement and interest to people who appreciate competitive sports and the outdoors,” Major League Commissioner Don Rucks said. “Anglers around the country rely on OPTIMA batteries, and we believe that having a partnership with an excellent company like OPTIMA batteries helps us move toward this goal.”
Cam Douglass, director of marketing and product development at OPTIMA, says his company has been “intrigued by and highly interested in” Major League Fishing since OPTIMA officials first heard about the new venture.
Major League Fishing is bringing something fresh and exciting to the world of competitive fishing, and we are delighted to have a part in helping the venture succeed,” Douglass said.
“When Major League Fishing brings viewers into the boat with the world’s best bass pros, OPTIMA will be there powering it all and proving once again that, when it comes to reliability, durability and long-lasting power on the water, OPTIMA truly is the ultimate power source.”
Major League Fishing anglers now sponsored by OPTIMA include: Edwin Evers, Brent Ehrler, Kelly Jordon, Mike Iaconelli, Tim Horton, Byron Velvick, Bobby Lane and Jason Quinn.
Major League Fishing’s first event, the Challenge Cup, took place November 6-11, 2011 on Lake Amistad near Del Rio, Texas. The Lake Amistad event debuted the league’s innovative format that enabled anglers to compete with no limit on the number of legal fish they can catch and weigh. Competitors were barred from utilizing both stored, user-generated GPS waypoints and were allowed no practice time. The anglers also were equipped with real-time leader boards in their boats.
Coverage of Major League Fishing’s Challenge Cup was offered beginning February 13, 2012 on ADVANCE CAST, a series of web-based pay-per-view broadcasts now available for order – either on an episode-by-episode basis or as a multi-episode package – at www.majorleaguefishing.com. Television broadcasts of Major League Fishing events can be seen on Outdoor Channel starting in late March.
About OPTIMA Batteries
OPTIMA YellowTop®, RedTop® and BlueTop® batteries are available through leading battery distributors throughout the globe. Consumers should look for the unique colored top and six-pack design for which OPTIMA is known throughout the world. For the nearest retailer, consumers can also call 1-888-8OPTIMA (1-888-867-8462) or visit www.optimabatteries.com.
OPTIMA batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls, Inc. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI – News) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing 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.
