PUEBLO, Colo. - PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and AIM (Active Interest Media), which produces leading consumer and trade events, websites, magazines, and films/TV shows, announced a partnership today in which PBR will represent TV and digital media rights for two AIM championship series in western sports along with a new original program in development.

PBR will represent the TV and digital rights for AIM’s Equine Group, including the World Series of Team Roping (WSTR), United States Team Roping Championship (USTRC), and American Cowboy TV, a new original series slated to debut in 2019. 

“We are excited to leverage the expertise of PBR and the greater Endeavor network to contribute to growth for AIM and the sport of team roping, broadening access and storytelling through digital, streaming and TV coverage,” said Tom Winsor, SVP Equine, AIM.  “This new relationship will benefit nearly 40,000 Team Roping competitors through expanded exposure.” 

In addition to selling the media rights of the World Series of Team Roping and United States Team Roping Championship to broadcast and cable networks, PBR will fully cover the upcoming 2018 events on RidePass, its western sports digital network launched earlier this year.

RidePass will carry every round of both the USTRC National Finals scheduled for October 21-27 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, featuring 11,000 teams, making it the largest roping event in the world, and as well as the WSTR Finale XIII on December 9-15 at South Point Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. With 4,000 vying for a purse exceeding $11 million, awarding more than $1 million each day of competition, the WSTR Finale is the richest event in western sports.

The WSTR and USTRC will be offered on RidePass as a combination package for $19.99. Fans can also purchase a $49.99 annual RidePass membership, which includes coverage of WSTR and USTRC, INFR (Indian National Finals Rodeo), premier rodeo events from WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance), and the PBR World Finals.

“Our goal with RidePass is to be the place for fans to watch the best athletes in western sports while also discovering their unique stories,” said Sean Gleason, CEO, PBR. “Adding to the RidePass lineup World Series of Team Roping – the richest event in western sports – along with the United States Team Roping Championship is a major coup for our growing network while helping grow rodeo sports and provide these western sports athletes more opportunities.”

Earlier this year, PBR began representing the media rights for the NHRSA (National High School Rodeo Association), WCRA and Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo. Coverage for these organizations has increased with RidePass carrying the $500,000 WCRA Rodeo in Las Vegas in May; the NHSRA Texas State Final from Abilene, TX.; the National Junior High Finals Rodeo from Huron, SD in June; and the National High School Finals Rodeo from Rock Springs, WY along with Days of ‘47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo from Salt Lake City in July.