“Official Network of the Iditarod” will showcase 17 hours of programming including a two-hour race coverage special of the 2015 version of the “Last Great Race on Earth” on April 2
NEW BERLIN, WI (March 16, 2015) – If the 2015 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race unfolds anywhere close to the way the 2014 version of the “Last Great Race on Earth” ended, then viewers of Sportsman Channel – Official Network of the Iditarod – will be in for a treat as the network continues its second year of coverage of the famed race on March 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Within the two-week Iditarod Unleashed programming stunt beginning on March 19 with – “Why Do They Run?” (9 p.m. ET/PT) and Sportsman Channel original “Why Do They Mush?” (9:30 p.m. ET/PT), viewers will have a front-row sneak-peek into the lives of the sled dogs and mushers, how they train to compete and what drives them to compete in the yearly endurance test. The Official Network of The Iditarod will continue its exclusive showcase of the dramatic stories of this year’s race, as well as programming from the Iditarod library and recap coverage of the exciting 2014 Iditarod in which Dallas Seavey captured his second career win after enduring a blinding snowstorm in the final miles. On Saturday, March 28 at 4 p.m. ET, Sportsman Channel will carry a four-hour block of marathon Iditarod programming including the March to Nome (Parts 1 & 2). Sportsman Channel’s coverage culminates on Thursday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with a two-hour special dedicated to highlighting the 2015 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In all, the network will air 17 hours of Iditarod programming, as well as present extensive print, digital and social media activation.
Highlights:
March 19:
“Why Do They Run” – 9 p.m. ET/PT
“Why Do They Mush” – 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
March 26:
Live Ceremonial Start of 2015 Iditarod – 9 p.m. ET/PT (encore)
March 28:
“March to Nome” – 2014 Iditarod Sled Dog Race (Part 1) – 4 p.m. ET
“March to Nome” – 2014 Iditarod Sled Dog Race (Part 2) – 5 p.m. ET
“Why Do They Run” – 6 p.m. ET (encore)
“Why Do They Mush” – 6:30 p.m. ET (encore)
Live Ceremonial Start of 2015 Iditarod – 7 p.m. ET (encore)
April 2:
2015 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Special – 8 p.m. ET/PT
Seventy-nine teams are vying to claim this year’s championship title. Sportsman Channel is dedicated to provide coverage of the stories of these deserving four-legged athletes and their mushers. It is a true breed of athlete that travels 968 miles through the ice and snow of the Alaskan tundra to see who can survive the harsh landscape and cross the finish line first in Nome.
“Last year, the exciting ending of the race assured everyone involved and watching on Sportsman Channel that no lead is safe and that anything can happen when the elements come into play,” said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming and production for Sportsman Channel. “Iditarod Unleashed will bring all of the stories – past and present – to viewers in the course of two weeks and reconfirm why the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is the last great race on Earth.”
For more information go to: www.thesportsmanchannel.com or become an Iditarod Insider at www.iditarod.com/insider/.
About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman HD is a television and digital media company fully devoted to honoring a lifestyle that is celebrated by millions of Americans. A division of KSE Outdoor Group, Sportsman Channel delivers entertaining and informative programming that showcases outdoor adventure, hunting and fishing, and illustrates it through unique and authentic storytelling. Sportsman Channel embraces the attitude of “Red, Wild & Blue America” – where the American Spirit and Great Outdoors are celebrated in equal measure. Sportsman Channel reaches more than 36 million U.S. television households. Stay connected to Sportsman Channel online at thesportsmanchannel.com, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
********
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tom Caraccioli, Sportsman Channel, P: 212.852.6646; tcaraccioli@thesportsmanchannel.com
Carroll, no stranger to adventure, travels to Mosinee, Wis. to meet up with the owner of Custom Robotic Wildlife. The company combines the art of taxidermy and technology to create life-like mounts and decoys. The custom decoys are requested by hunters, as well as law enforcement, that use them in the fight against wildlife crime. Carroll gets the inside scoop on how the technology is built and an opportunity to see the decoys in action.
“Sportsman Channel is excited for viewers across America to be able to experience the sights, sounds and history of the Iditarod’s ceremonial start live as it unfolds,” said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming and production for Sportsman Channel. “The ability to deliver this televised event for the first time ever to the ‘Lower 48’ and Hawaii is another milestone for the network in providing the most engaging experience we can for our Red, Wild and Blue audience.”
This special Avian-X TV episode is part of Sportsman Channel’s overall series block 
Seventeen chart-topping hits written for the likes of Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Lee Brice, and numerous songwriting awards, make up Davidson’s lyrical repertoire. But Davidson is an outdoorsman at heart. His love of fishing began at an early age – in part thanks to Dance. Davidson has been a fan of the show for as long as he can remember. Childhood dreams come true for him, as he joins Dance for a long-awaited bass fishing adventure.
Viewers won’t want to miss a special episode on February 28 at 7 p.m. ET featuring country music star Blake Shelton along with NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler turkey hunting with the Avian-X crew. Shelton is featured again on March 7 at 7 p.m. ET as the Avian-X cameras go inside his annual Oklahoma Turkey Camp.
“What do you think of when you think of Alaska?” asks Stroff. “Unique, rugged, tough – it is a place to experience things you’ve never experienced before – it’s truly the last frontier.”
Brittany and Helen are city dwellers from New York City and have only watched hunting from a distance on their television screens. Upon arrival in Montana, Mother Nature greets the team with the harsh reality of whipping winds and cool temperatures. Both ladies are able to locate several herds of cow elk, however, topography and other elements may stand in their way of a successful result.
Hunt of a Lifetime works to ensure children dealing with terminal illness have the chance to experience hunting adventures like never before – including two young brothers, both suffering from muscular dystrophy. Conner embarks on a hunt for whitetail deer with the duo, whose inspiring story and vibrant personalities shine through in the field.
