GSN appears to have no interest in televising poker events. They didn't renew the contract to aire additional High Stakes Poker episodes, and last month allowed the WPT renewal option to lapse, WPT | About Us | WPT ENTERPRISES OPENS DISCUSSIONS FOR SEASON VII TELEVISION BROADCAST RIGHTS.
The GOOD NEWS, as posted on PokerRoad.com, Poker Industry News, Poker Radio and Poker Video Content at PokerRoad.com, is the WPT will continue to aire; but Season VII will be on Fox Sports Network.
World Poker Tour: We're Baaaaaaaack!
2008 July, 17
The announcement that the poker community has been anticipating is finally public – and yes, it's good news. According to the official press release:
"WPT Enterprises, Inc. and Fox Sports Network announced today a partnership and broadcast license for Season VII of the World Poker Tour® (WPT) television series. FSN, the nation’s leading provider of local sports, received exclusive rights to air 26 all-new one hour WPT episodes in the United States across its national sports cable network."
This is seemingly amazing news for the World Poker Tour, poker fans, and the poker business as a whole. Fox Sports Net will certainly lend credibility to an industry struggling for legitimacy in the public eye right now. Also, FSN is available on many more cable networks and will attract many more eyes to the WPT than it ever had on Travel Channel or GSN.
The broadcast schedule is yet to be announced - PNews is reporting the show will air "each Sunday evening, somewhere in the 'prime time' (6-10 pm) hours"; however, we do know that today's Bellagio Cup IV final table will be the first episode on the new FSN broadcast which will include 26 one-hour episodes (presumably two per event).
A lot of people are going to breathe a collective sigh of relief at hearing this news, including us here at PokerRoad who are amazingly happy that our friends at the WPT found what looks like to be a great home.
© Copyright 2008
7 comments
Now we just need Shana back!
Freakin sweet
One of the handfull of channels I don't get in my digital cable package is GSN. Awesome to hear Fox Sports is picking it up, they better not let Chris Rose host it. Dumping Mike Sexton is cool with me but please, not for him. No word on where High Stakes Poker may end up if GSN is dropping it too?
Also anyone know whats up with the PPT? Is that thing still alive or was it a one season and done deal?
Sweet thanks for the blog I am very glad that the WPT will continue I always have loved watching it. Speacially now thats its on Fox a lot more people will likely be watching it. So cudos for that partnership.
WOooooooooooooooooooooooooooosssssshhhhhhhhh
Go to card Player TV to see the interview with WPT and FSN Execs regarding the new home for the WPT. This looks like GREAT stuff in store for all of us WPT fans!!!
Card Player TV brings you the scoop on the World Poker Tour's recent announcement of it's broadcast deal with Fox Sports Net. (July 18, 2008)