ESPN has reached an agreement to sell BASS, LLC, the bass fishing organization that also includes several media platforms, including three magazines and a website.
The sale is to a group of investors led by former Time Inc. and Time Warner executive Don Logan, former ESPN on-air fishing show host Jerry McKinnis and former Deloitte U.S. and Global CEO Jim Copeland. They will assume all assets of BASS, but ESPN will continue to televise BASS programs, "Bassmaster Elite Series" and "Bassmaster Classic."
ESPN acquired BASS, LLC, in 2001.
McKinnis, an investor and outdoorsman, hosted ESPN's second longest-running show, "The Fishin Hole," which was televised from 1980 to 2007.
Logan is former chairman and CEO of Time Inc., who later served as chairman of Time Warner's Media and Communication's Group where he oversaw America Online, Time Warner Cable and Time Warner Book Group before retiring in 2002.
Copeland retired as U.S. and Global CEO of financial services company Deloitte in 2003 and currently serves on the boards of three Fortune 500 companies.
"This group is looking forward to working with the fishing industry's strongest brand and plans to make BASS even more relevant in the multimedia world," Logan said in a statement. BASS, LLC, has a membership of more than 500,000 and is headquartered in Celebration. Fla.
