Dish Network will be presenting sponsor of RFD-TV's broadcast of The American, a one-day rodeo with a $1 million top prize and $2.5 million in prize money.
The Feb. 25 event will originate at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas -- coverage on RFD-TV and co-owned Cowboy Channel starts at 3 p.m. -- and will include two new Dish-backed prizes, $5,000 for most promising up-and-comer and another $5,000 "Back in the Saddle" payout for an "up-and comebacker," as it were.
The American features seven events: bareback, barrel racing, saddle bronc and bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping. Anyone can qualify and those who do get to go up against the sport's big names for a finals check of $100,000, and their piece of the “American Dream” $1 million pie.
Dish was the first major national carrier to add rural-themed networks RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel, according to channel founder Patrick Gottsch in announcing the Dish sponsorship.
