Lake Effect: ESPN Cancels Flagship Bass Show “Basscenter”

ESPN2’s “BassCenter” has been cancelled “in a move that could foretell more changes” for BASS, according to Alan Clemons of the HUNTSVILLE TIMES. An ESPN source said that an e-mail was sent last week to ESPN’s Charlotte regional office “requesting the ‘BassCenter’ staff to be available for a meeting Monday,” where ESPN/ABC Sports Exec VP/Studio & Remote Production Norby Williamson told the staff of the cancellation. The source said Williamson “said the show was slick and everyone had done a good job, but it wasn’t a money-maker and they had to cut some excess.” Clemons reports ESPN’s coverage of tournaments “and other Bassmaster events are expected to continue, but the amount of airtime is unknown.” The move comes after ESPN Outdoors/BASS VP & GM Christine Godleski left the company in June. Steve Anderson replaced Godleski and was “charged with examining the ESPN Outdoors/BASS operations.” The source said, “We saw the writing on the wall when [Godleski] left earlier this summer.” Williamson said that selling the BASS property “was not in the plans” (HUNTSVILLE TIMES, 8/8).