World Poker Tour® to Air Every Sunday and Wednesday on Fox Sports Net®
The show that revolutionized poker returns with all-new episodes this February to Fox Sports Net (FSN). WPT Season X premieres on Sunday, February 12th at 8:00pm and 11:00pm local time*.
Last season recorded an impressive 30% increase in ratings and prompted an expansion from 26 to 37 episodes for WPT Season X. Over the past year, fans gravitated en masse to the show’s innovative changes and made World Poker Tour the top-rated show** on FSN. As a result, each tournament on WPT Season X will now be featured in three separate episodes, showcasing more action, more excitement, and more behind the scenes footage.
“The steadfast effort put into revamping the World Poker Tour last season was rewarded with resounding fan and viewer support,” said Adam Pliska, WPT President. “For WPT Season X, we’re debuting more innovations and giving our audience even more reasons to tune in each week.”
With extended playdown coverage, poker fans will experience the complete story of the tournament leading up to the riveting final table. WPT Season X will feature more hands per event, more final table showdowns, more bluffs and more bad beats. World Poker Tour will also celebrate its storied history through glimpses into the past in the new segment WPT Champions Cup, which highlights classic WPT final table moments. As the action moves off the felt, viewers will get an exclusive look into the lives of WPT’s cast in the brand new segment On the Road filmed by Joey Carson, executive producer of The Simple Life and The Bad Girls Club.
Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten will command the booth for an astounding tenth year. The iconic co-hosts will be joined once again by Kimberly Lansing, the beautiful and charismatic WPT Anchor. Of course, the fabulous Royal Flush Girls will also be returning to the broadcast, much to the delight of their passionate fan base.
“WPT Season IX redefined poker programming and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Season X will see more new elements that we expect the audience will love and will further enhance the timeless appeal of our show,” said Steve Heller, WPT CEO. “World Poker Tour’s sustainability is not only a testament to continual innovation, but also to co-hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten, who have been the best in the business for an incredible ten years.”
Raw Deal Analyst Tony Dunst will continue to challenge the pros and educate the amateurs with insightful commentary, while the hip segment WPT Ones to Watch features a new cast of young up-and-coming players. Viewers at home will get to know these rising stars through entertaining profiles both in and out of the poker room.
“For a series that was already a strong performer, last season’s 30% increase in household ratings is truly exceptional,” said David Sussin, VP of Programming at Fox Sports Net. “Extending the number of original episodes for WPT Season X will only help generate more excitement for our audience.”
With fewer commercial breaks this season, viewers will experience even more high-stakes action. Poker fans at home will also finally be able to behold the towering WPT Champions Cup and the digitally-interactive Royal Flush Girls Social Bar, unveiled to the television audience on February 12th. The highly anticipated premiere previews Season X and features a best of Season IX.
New episodes of World Poker Tour will air Sundays at 8:00pm and 11:00pm local time* on FSN or FSN’s affiliated networks in certain markets***. WPT Season X re-airs every Wednesday at 11:00pm. Check local listings.
*pending live event pre-emption
**excluding live events
***Fox Sports Net affiliates include MSG New York, Comcast Sports Network and Root Sports