More than 140 million World Poker Tour® viewers globally will be able to participate in real-time NFT drops and auctions during live television and cable broadcast
San Jose, CA (April 8, 2021) – Theta Labs, the leading decentralized video delivery network, and World Poker Tour® (WPT®), the premier name in live poker entertainment, have partnered exclusively to launch the world’s first real-time NFT marketplace on WPT.THETADROP.COM. Season XVIII of the World Poker Tour will premiere on Sunday, April 18 on Bally Sports Networks nationwide. Each year, WPT reaches more than 140 million viewers across North America, Europe and the rest of the world on multiple linear, digital platforms and connected devices.
Season XVIII premiere dates are as follows:
April 18, 2021 – Theta Network WPT Cash game, part 1
April 25, 2021 – Theta Network WPT Cash game, part 2
May 2, 2021 – Theta Network WPT Cash game, part 3
May 9, 2021 – Theta Network WPT Cash game, part 4
Each week during the episode, in-show advertisement and promotional segments will direct viewers to the NFT marketplace to queue up, purchase exclusive WPT packs for a limited time and participate in the live auction for a unique legendary poker moment. For launch, WPT will be paying tribute to legendary poker icon Mike Sexton, who passed away in September 2020. Mike also was the face of WPT as lead anchor and commentator along with Vince Van Patten with “Mike Sexton: The Legend Hand” as a 3 of 3 NFT to be auctioned. Additionally, a limited quantity of Base set, Rare and Legendary themed poker packs will be dropped. Signup and pre-registration is now open at WPT.THETADROP.COM, be first in line!
“Our exclusive NFT launch with Theta Network is one of our biggest digital initiatives to-date and for the first time ever we’re combining our global reach of live televised poker with an NFT marketplace, giving our fans an interactive, real-time opportunity to collect a piece of the WPT poker action,” said Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour. “We are thrilled to bring some of our top Poker pros, players and celebrities to the NFT world, featuring rare and legendary WPT packs in weekly drops and running exclusive one of a kind auctions for super rare poker moments.”
The ThetaDrop NFT marketplace is powered by the Theta Network and protocol, a native blockchain that significantly differentiates from other NFT platforms as it was purposefully built for media and entertainment. The cost of minting NFTs and gas fees are as low as $0.00001 on the Theta network and transaction times are 100x faster than on Ethereum. More importantly, the Theta protocol is built from the ground up on a proof-of-stake (POS) model and therefore uses a fraction of the electricity and resources making it significantly greener, and more environmentally friendly than other platforms. In the future, Theta’s distributed network of more than 30,000 community-run edge nodes will support decentralized NFT storage enabling users to truly own and take custody of their NFTs, and not depend on any centralized platform. Cross-chain bridge between Theta Network, Ethereum and others will enable seamless NFT transfer and transactions across networks, so users can take their NFTs with them where they want to.
“We’re excited to launch the next-generation NFT marketplace with WPT, a unique opportunity to bring digital collectibles synchronized to live TV and cable broadcast to an audience of millions worldwide,” said Mitch Liu, co-founder and CEO of Theta Labs. “ThetaDrop maximizes earnings to brand partners and creators by bringing the interactivity, real-time engagement and personality possible only through a livestream when doing NFT drops and auctions. Theta’s proof-of-stake native blockchain means creators can be assured that minting and transacting NFTs are 100% eco-friendly, fast and inexpensive.”
ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name 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 more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 18th season, which airs on FOX Sports Regional Networks in the United States. Season XVIII of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 43 states and territories across the United States, Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, go to WPT.com. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc.
WPT Media Contact
Matt Clark – [email protected]
ABOUT THETA LABS, INC.
Theta Labs pioneered Theta Network, the leading video delivery network powered by blockchain technology, and THETA.tv, the next generation decentralized live streaming platform. Theta infrastructure enables existing video platforms to drive incremental revenues and reduce content delivery CDN costs while end-users are rewarded for sharing their bandwidth to relay video on a peer-to-peer basis on any PC, mobile, Smart TV and IoT device.
Theta’s enterprise validator and governance program is led by global leaders including Google, Samsung, Sony Europe, Binance, Blockchain Ventures, and gumi. THETA.tv, the first application built on the Theta Network, leverages its existing user base of millions of esports viewers to seed the Theta P2P mesh network along with content partnerships with Lionsgate, MGM Studios, CONtv, NASA, and others. Video platform partners include World Poker Tour, Cinedigm, Samsung VR, GameTalkTalk, MovieBloc, Ultra, GFUEL and other OTT media, entertainment, peer-to-peer live streaming services. Strategic corporate investors include Samsung NEXT, Sony Innovation Fund, media investors BDMI Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, CAA Creative Artists Agency, and traditional Silicon Valley VCs including DCM and Sierra Ventures. Learn more at www.thetalabs.org.
Theta Labs Media Contact
Erhan Korhaliller – [email protected] / [email protected]