Back in 2003 World Poker Tour Enterprises teamed up with the Travel channel to air the first season of WPT events, and began the poker frenzy worldwide.
Some would say the recent boom in poker is mostly due to the success of the World poker Tour airing on the Travel Channels for the last 4 years and 5 seasons.
But either way the Travel channel has decided they are not renewing their contractual option ending April 1, 2007 for season 6 of the World Poker Tour events.
This is in large by the recent landscape changes in the industry. Mostly the unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, and the over saturation of poker on TV by almost every network.
Or even maybe the recent purchase by Cox Communications of the Travel Channel. No one will know for sure but it was a good kick off for poker as an entertaining part of millions or viewer and players worldwide.
The WPT is leaving the Travel Channel. WPT World Poker Tour has announced they sign a new broadcast rights agreement for season 6 with GSN, the premier cable network for interactive game programming.
GSN has agreed to pay $300,000 per episode for a total of twenty-three episodes in two-hour segments filmed in casinos and card rooms around the world. GSN has also committed to spend $3 million for marketing for each season. This is still a grand fee for airing the show, though not as much as in years past but still points out the WPT is a poker force not to be reckoned with.
Ceo of GSN Rich Cronin couldn’t seem happier with the deal as he states in this quote from the press release.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring the World Poker Tour to GSN,” said Rich Cronin, President and CEO of GSN. “The WPT launched a global poker phenomenon. It not only increased poker rooms and activity in casinos, but it brought the great game of poker to living rooms around the world. In a short period of time, Steve Lipscomb and his team have built the WPT brand into a flagship entertainment entity recognized worldwide. By adding WPT to our existing lineup of compelling gaming entertainment, GSN will be at the head of the poker table.”
Steve Lipscomb is glad to have a new home at the GSN which does seem to be the next logical step for the WPT. Steve had these words during a press conference.
“As we continue to expand the WPT brand and set new limits for poker programming, the move to GSN is the perfect next step for us,” said Steve Lipscomb, Founder, President and CEO of WPTE.
I know as a poker fan myself we can all look forward to the new home and exciting poker action for the new season 6 of the World Poker Tour at GSN.
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