Omaha-based RFD-TV Founder & Chair Patrick Gottsch "is baffled by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s decision to pick CBS Sports Network over his network to broadcast the Las Vegas-based National Finals Rodeo," according to Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Gottsch said that he offered $1M to the PRCA for the broadcast rights for the NFR, "considered the Super Bowl of rodeos." The PRCA this month announced that it "will pay CBS Sports Network to broadcast 48 hours of the NFR and other Champions rodeo events" in '14 and '15. Gottsch "can’t understand why the PRCA would not accept a $1 million-a-year broadcast deal and instead choose a TV deal that requires the PRCA to pay for the event’s broadcast." Gottsch: "We really wanted it. We knew no one was paying (for the rights). It’s so confusing. We were devastated. It was a very curious decision." Gottsch said that PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman "informed him that Wrangler -- a major PRCA sponsor -- blocked the RFD-TV bid." Gottsch said that he "was also prepared to use his RFD-TV to serve as an unofficial western sports channel to grow rodeo around the country" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/28).
