GSN President Speaks about World Poker TourWPT Will Join High Stakes Poker as Part of Monday Casino Night in 2008 |
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GSN, the network for games, became perhaps the leading network dedicated to poker this week when it came to terms with World Poker Tour Enterprises to air the sixth - and possible many more - seasons of the World Poker Tour.
Starting in January of 2008, the WPT will be packaged with High Stakes Poker on Monday nights as part of the network's casino night. Rich Cronin, president and CEO of GSN, feels strongly that the matchup is one that will attract even more poker fans to the channel Monday night lineup, and he's thrilled to have the WPT.
"We think there's going to be some great synergy between High Stakes Poker and WPT on GSN," Cronin said.
The Travel Channel opted not to activate a two-year extension on a contract that expired April 1. GSN jumped on the option to have WPT join its family of shows. It's paying WPTE $300,000 per episode and ordered one season of 23 shows, with an option for two more seasons. It also dedicated $3 million to marketing the show.
"We clearly have to let people know that GSN is the new home to the World Poker Tour," Cronin said.
To read more about the details of the deal, click here for a news story published earlier today.
Steve Lipscomb, founder, president and CEO of WPTE, gives the Travel Channel accolades for taking a chance on his ground-breaking poker show, but says that WPT didn't fit into the channel's future plans
"It's clear that they're heading in a different direction with their brand," Lipscomb said. "(This deal) seems like the right time and the right place with the right kind of partner."
The Travel Channel did not return a call made yesterday.
Most of GSN's shows allow its viewers to play along through the Internet, and although the look and feel of the WPT won't change (Vince Van Patten and Mike Sexton are staying), GSN and WPTE are just now figuring out ways to integrate the viewer.
"We think there are a lot of opportunities for us in interactive and online. And I think it really helps make GSN the home for serious poker players," Cronin said. "With WPT and High Stakes Poker and both of our websites, it's a great way to expand on the poker boom."
This is GSN's first deal with a television series that was already well-established in the United States. The WPT just celebrated the first episode of season five last night, and will film its 100th episode later this month.
Players on the WPT have won more than $300 million, and the show has made 68 people millionaires through the show's tournaments.
To read more about the show up to its fifth-year anniversary, please click here.
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