By Jesse Whittock
International TV Co-Editor
EXCLUSIVE: The daughters of the late Cowboy Channel founder Patrick Gottsch are following in his footsteps and will lead the family business.
Gatsby Gottsch Solheim and Raquel Gottsch Koehler have officially become the leaders of Rural Media Group (RMG), the family-owned business Gottsch founded in 2000. Gottsch Solheim will be Chief Financial and Legal Officer and Gottsch Koehler takes on a Chief Marketing and Creative Officer role.
Gottsch passed away last year aged 70, having built Nashville-based RMG into one of cable’s leading cowboy lifestyle network providers. Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan was among those who paid tribute to Gottsch, who had spent his life promoting and growing the rural and western way of life.
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“Our father built RMG to give rural America a seat at the national media table – and we’re honored to carry that mission forward,” said Gottsch Koehler.
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Following Gottsch’s death in July, Gottsch Solheim and Gottsch Koehler finalized the sale of The Cowboy Channel and The Cowgirl Channel to Teton Ridge. Their father had initiated the deal, which they say will set up RMG to expand the reach of flagship network RFD-TV and several other assets.
“We are honored to take on this responsibility and excited to carry forward the legacy our father built,” said Gottsch Solheim. “We understand the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities today, and we are dedicated to making sure our platform continues to represent the values and way of life that are so important to us.”
RMG claims to reach 50 million homes in the U.S. through its RFD-TV, RFD-TV Now and Rural Radio on SiriusXM 147 stations, and they are also carried internationally.
Plans are afoot for a slate of new programs that will sit alongside the likes of Market Day Report, Rural Evening News, Cow Guy Close, On the Record, FarmHer and RanchHer. Community initiatives aimed at platforming rural voices and engaging new viewers are also forthcoming.
“As we step into this next chapter, we’re focused on growing our audience across every platform, investing in bold storytelling, and spotlighting the real people who power this country,” said Gottsch Koehler. “From the fields to the boardrooms, their stories matter, and we’re here to make sure they’re seen, heard and celebrated.”
Both sisters have been at RMG since launch, with Gottsch Koehler working as CEO of The Cowboy Channel from 2017 until its sale, which closed in December. Under her leadership, it broadcasted more than 600 live rodeos annually. She also led a relaunch of FarmHer and RanchHer on RFD-TV, expanding the visibility of women in agriculture.
Gottsch Solheim has played a key role in the financial and strategic focus at RMG since 2010, overseeing a $30M debt restructuring, expanding international and digital distribution and leading on several asset sales.
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