Versus Extends Partnership With Legendary Outdoor Host Bill Dance

VERSUS Adds Bill Dance Saltwater to the Line-up Making
the Network the Exclusive Home of Bill Dance

NEW YORK (July 12, 2011)—VERSUS, now part of the NBC Sports Group, and Bill Dance Productions today announced an agreement to continue televising Bill Dance Outdoors and, for the first time, add Bill Dance Saltwater to the outdoor programming schedule, making VERSUS the exclusive home of all Bill Dance programming in 2012. VERSUS will provide full HD coverage of both shows, which will begin airing in January 2012. Additionally, NBC Sports Group will have a presence this week at ICAST, the world’s largest sport fishing trade show, in Las Vegas, Nev., in booth #1533.

“Bill is a living legend in the outdoor industry and we're very excited to expand our partnership with him in 2012,” said Jeff Macaluso, Director of Field Sports Programming and New Media. “Bill Dance Outdoors has been a staple of our weekend line-up for many years and Bill Dance Saltwater makes us the exclusive television home for all things Dance. This is a perfect example of our continuing dedication to bring our viewers the biggest names and best programming in outdoor television.”

"We know VERSUS is the number one channel for outdoor programming — its where, for over seven years, we've reached our largest audience,” said host Bill Dance. “I'm excited that we've renewed and our agreement with VERSUS and that we're adding our saltwater series, Bill Dance Saltwater, where we fish for the most popular in-shore and off-shore species with knowledgeable experts to give the viewers an exciting yet educational show.”

Bill Dance Outdoors has aired since 1968 with over 2000 shows in its history and each week Bill demonstrates his freshwater fishing techniques for his viewers. Bill Dance Saltwater makes its debut on VERSUS in 2012. The show will visit several different areas around the country, including the Florida Keys, Chesapeake Bay and Martha’s Vineyard. The show once again brings viewers Bill’s educational approach to fishing, this time to saltwater anglers. Through his experience and knowledge, Bill will prove that anyone can be a successful fisherman out on the open water.

VERSUS, part of the NBC Sports Group, prides itself on super-serving passionate sports fans across all platforms. Now in more than 76 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and Professional Bull Riders (PBR). VERSUS also airs NASCAR, NBA, UFC, college football, college basketball and Triple Crown horse racing coverage. The network is also home to the best outdoor programming on television. VERSUS is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

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