ESPN and Sport Fishing Championship Renew Media Rights for 2026 season
ESPN+ will stream every SFC professional competition live in 2026. ESPN2 will present select live coverage of the Zane Grey Championship on Sunday, October 18.
(DALLAS, TX: April 17, 2026): Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) today announced an extension of its media rights with ESPN for the 2026 season, renewing ESPN as the exclusive domestic home for SFC competition. SFC begins its 2026 season on Friday, April 17 with the Key West Classic, a tournament featuring all 13 professional angling Clubs from both divisions. Texas Lone Stars Angling Club, owned by Scottie Scheffler, are the defending league champions and begin their title defense in Key West.
Under the agreement, ESPN+ will stream every SFC professional competition live in 2026. Additionally, ESPN2 will present select live coverage of the Zane Grey Championship on Sunday, October 18.
The 2026 season marks year two of SFC’s professional angling club-based format, featuring 13 angling clubs representing coastal regions across North America. Club owners include accomplished athletes and entertainers like the No. 1 golfer in the world and four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler, NBA player Ben Simmons, Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert, LIV Golf champion Talor Gooch and Grammy-nominated country music artist Brian Kelley.
Disney+ will stream the season internationally in Latin America including Mexico, Brazil and the Caribbean, and in Australia and New Zealand, significantly expanding SFC’s global reach.
“Our relationship with ESPN reflects the continued momentum of the league and the strength of our shared vision for the sport,” said Mark Neifeld, Commissioner CEO of SFC. “By delivering live coverage of every event on ESPN+ and expanding our presence across ESPN’s linear networks, we are providing fans with greater access to our sport while continuing to build a scalable, global media platform.”
SFC retained Octagon to assist with negotiating its deals with ESPN.
“We are tremendously proud to have aided SFC in its negotiation with ESPN,” said William Mao, SVP, Media Rights Consulting at Octagon. “SFC is the primary force pushing sportfishing forward with its tremendous storytelling and growth potential and star-studded club ownership group. The league’s continued presence on ESPN platforms is indicative of its status as a premier competitive outdoor property.”
“ESPN has been an important partner in elevating the visibility of competitive sport fishing,” Neifeld added. “This agreement allows us to further enhance how the sport is presented and consumed, while maintaining a consistent, high-quality viewing experience for fans across digital and linear platforms.”
About Sport Fishing Championship
Founded in 2021, Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) is a competitive sportfishing league of 16 professional angling clubs competing internationally across North America. SFC’s celebrity-driven ownership group includes accomplished athletes and entertainers such as Scottie Scheffler, Austin Dillon, Raheem Mostert, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, and Brian Kelley. SFC is committed to growing the sport through innovation, fan engagement, and building a strong outdoor community.
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Christine Calcagno, christine.b.calcagno@espn.com