Thursday, July 16, 2026

Roku’s Live Sports Expansion Continues With Bassmaster Rights 

Bassmaster’s linear TV rights are still held by Fox, but the streaming service is adding fishing broadcasts that Fox doesn’t air.

Syndication: The Anderson Independent Mail

Roku is expanding further into live sports. 

The streaming platform is adding a number of Bassmaster events to its programming lineup, reps for both sides confirmed to Front Office Sports

Bassmaster’s linear TV rights are still held by Fox. Roku will stream different days of the same tournaments, as well as tournaments that are different from what Fox airs. Events that Roku will air include:

• The Elite Qualifier Series, plus five Bassmaster Open Series events where anglers qualify for the former

• The Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am in prime time

• Coverage encompassing part of all nine events from the Bassmaster Elite Series

• The Friday portion of the Bassmaster Classic

The events will be free on Roku for anyone who has the necessary device.

The tournaments have a cult audience; the winner of the Bassmaster Classic receives $300,000.

“It’s an honor to call Roku the streaming home of Bassmaster, an iconic brand with a decades-spanning history of producing best-in-class professional fishing tournaments,” Joe Franzetta, Roku Media’s head of sports, said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing these events for free to the passionate fanbase of this top outdoor sport, as well as introducing Bassmaster to new audiences, expanding the tournaments’ reach to millions of streaming households in the U.S.”

B.A.S.S. COO Phillip Johnson said the fishing league is “very excited about the creation of a new outlet for posted video content, on a dedicated Bassmaster FAST channel on Roku.”

Roku’s other live sports rights include an exclusive Sunday morning MLB game, the X Games, the NBA G League, and Formula E. It also airs The Rich Eisen Show and GMFB: Overtime.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.

Comcast Reverses Course, Will Spin Off NBCUniversal

The dramatic plan entirely flips the company’s position from five months ago.

U.S.–Australia Holiday Showdown Could Be Fox Bonanza

A consequential match is good news for the network.

The World Cup Comes to Grant Wahl’s Hometown

The late sportswriter grew up in Mission, Kansas.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/16/26 – World Cup Final Set, Kawhi Probe, FanDuel VIP Scandal Deepens

0:00

Featured Today

Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
ATLANTA, GA - September 05: Georgia Lottery fireworks after the game against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
July 2, 2026

Inside the Spectacle and Science of MLB Fireworks

Postgame fireworks are lighting up baseball for America250.
Kansas City Chiefs
July 1, 2026

NFL Teams Push to Turn Futbol Fans Into Football Devotees

NFL teams are courting international soccer fans during their World Cup visits.
Adam Friedland

How the World Cup Turned Adam Friedland Into a Sports Pundit

The comedian says he’ll continue to create sports content post–World Cup.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA- JULY 13: during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Heather Barry / Netflix)
Opinion
July 14, 2026

Netflix Bounces Back With Home Run Derby Debut

After its panned coverage of Opening Night, Netflix focused on the field.
Former NFL Coache Jon Gruden have a laugh while attending an NFL training camp session ten at the Miller Electric Center, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
July 15, 2026

Can Jon Gruden Reinvent Himself on Play-by-Play?

Gruden will reportedly call a Buccaneers’ preseason game next month.
Sponsored

Clase Azul Tequila Founder’s Soccer Ownership

Arturo Lomeli talks about managing a tequila brand and two soccer clubs.
John Smoltz acknowledges the crowd during the introduction of returning inductees at the National Baseball Hall of Fame's 2024 induction ceremony Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.
July 14, 2026

John Smoltz: MLB All-Star Game Is ‘Absolutely’ Still the Best

The Hall of Fame pitcher will call the Midsummer Classic for Fox.
Apr 16, 2026; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A view of the ESPN logo before the semifinals for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championships at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
July 13, 2026

ESPN Blames Human for Headline Error in AI Article

ESPN has been using AI to write certain game recaps since 2024.
July 13, 2026

12 States Sue to Block Paramount’s $110B WBD Deal

The plaintiff states point to widespread prospective harms.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
July 13, 2026

ESPN Ending Syndicated Version of ‘Good Morning Football’

‘GMFB: Overtime’ first launched in 2024.