Outdoor Channel Holdings to Merge with Sportsman Channel

Transaction, resulting in InterMedia Outdoor Holdings, expected to close in Q1

By Mike Reynolds, Multichannel News -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/16/2012 10:23:45 AM

Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc. will merge with InterMedia Outdoors Holdings, LLC to form a behemoth multiplatform company, retaining a pair of linear networks that will continue to serve genre enthusiasts.

The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013, will create InterMedia Outdoor Holdings, Inc., with the expectation it will be listed for trading on NASDAQ.

This transaction unites industry leaders in outdoor television, print, digital and social media, as well as editorial and content production for the hunting, shooting, fishing and conservation categories. Outdoor Channel, which currently counts some 38 million subscribers, and the 30- million-home Sportsman Channel, will continue to operate as separate channels.

An investor call will be held at 10 a.m. (ET)

InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., a multimedia company that publishes 15 market leading outdoor magazines and 20 leading websites, is controlled by InterMedia Partners VII, L.P., Leo Hindery's private equity investment fund. Outdoor Channel Holdings controls Outdoor Channel, as well as outdoorchannel.com.

InterMedia Partners VII, L.P. and the minority members of IMOH LLC will own 67.6% of IMOH Inc.

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