Press Release
WPT AND FSN ENTER INTO MULTI-SEASON BROADCAST AND PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENT
Strategic Deal Locks in Three Years of Primetime Poker and Is the Latest in a Series of News-Making Announcements for the WPT
LOS ANGELES – (August 30, 2010) The World Poker Tour® (WPT) and Fox Sports Net (FSN) announced today a multi-season broadcast and promotional agreement for the distribution of Seasons 9, 10, and 11 of the highly successful World Poker Tour television series. The new agreement features prime time national premiere airtimes of 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM on Sunday nights, as well as multiple repeat airings throughout the week. Additionally, WPT and FSN have agreed to extensive promotional advertising that will keep viewers up-to-date on new airings throughout the season.
WPT’s Season 9 will premiere with its 179th episode in January 2011. Viewers will find a host of new enhancements to the series, including:
- the introduction of Kimberly Lansing in a new role as anchor of the show;
- a brash, yet-to-be-named new analyst, who will host a recurring segment called "The Raw Deal;"
- a new tour stop at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida; and
- the introduction of the Royal Flush Girl™, who serve as on-set ambassadors and on-air fixtures for all of the WPT domestic stops.
"This season promises to be unlike any previous incarnations of the WPT," said Steve Heller, CEO of WPT. "The shows will be faster-paced and edgier, featuring the biggest names in poker mixing it up with more up-and-coming stars, pre-final table action and, as always, poker’s greatest and most recognizable play-by-play commentary team of Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten."
"As a leader in sports programming, FSN has been a great champion of the WPT and we are thrilled to make this long-term commitment as we celebrate a new day for the WPT," said WPT President Adam Pliska. "The better airtimes, improved promotion and the increased number of repeat episodes promise to be a boon for fans and the perfect showcase for the exciting changes coming to the WPT starting in Season 9."
"FSN is excited to remain the home for The World Poker Tour, which continues to deliver great ratings for our affiliates. WPT is one of the most respected brands in poker and will only grow stronger with the tremendous innovations they are bringing to the show in the new season," said FSN VP of Programming David Sussin. "Our network has long been a showcase for the best poker on television, and we are very happy WPT will continue that tradition.”
WPT will be sponsored by ClubWPT.com, the legal online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker site. Through WPT Live Updates, viewers will also have more chances to interact with talent, go behind-the-scenes of the show and get all the latest action on a newly upgraded worldpokertour.com website.
Media Contacts:
FSN: Lou D’Ermilio, Lou.D'Ermilio@fox.com
WPT: Justin Simon, Justin@strivecommunications.com
ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in over 150 countries and is current filming its all-new ninth season. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which is available in 38 states across the U.S. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, visit www.worldpokertour.com.
ABOUT FSN
FSN is the nation’s leading provider of local sports. Through its 19 owned-and-operated regional networks, FSN serves as the TV home to more than half of all MLB, NHL, and NBA teams. FSN’s nationwide roster of regional sports networks includes FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports Carolinas, FOX Sports Detroit, FOX Sports Florida, FOX Sports Houston, FOX Sports Indiana, FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports North, FOX Sports Ohio, FOX Sports Oklahoma, FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Southwest, FOX Sports Tennessee, FOX Sports West, FOX Sports Wisconsin, PRIME Ticket, SportSouth, and Sun Sports. FSN produces close to 5,000 live local events each year, including more than 2,800 in high definition, making FSN the most prolific producers of HD Sports programming in the country. In addition to its thousands of home team games and a wide variety of locally produced sports programs, FSN televises national sports events and programs, including Pac-10 and ACC basketball and Pac-10 and Big 12 football.
