WPT Season VI will air on GSN in North America in early 2008
LOS ANGELES, April 5, 2007 – Bringing together the leaders in casino gaming and poker entertainment, WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPTE) and GSN, the premier cable network for interactive game programming, announced today an agreement to air Season VI of the World Poker Tour® (WPT). As part of the deal, GSN will broadcast 23 individual WPT Season VI poker events in two-hour episodes filmed in casinos and card rooms around the world. WPT will begin taping its new season in May 2007 which will debut in early 2008 as part of GSN’s Monday night casino lineup where the network has built a substantial following in the casino game genre.
The collaboration delivers an unprecedented platform for the best poker programming, providing poker fans with a dedicated casino gaming network that will air all-new action from Season VI WPT, as well as other exciting gaming programs, including the GSN’s cutting-edge cash game, High Stakes Poker (HSP).
“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. “By moving to a network that is already dedicated to delivering innovative gaming and poker entertainment, we will be able to take WPT where we’ve not yet been able to go. After hitting a major television milestone with our fifth anniversary, we look forward to celebrating many more landmarks as we grow our partnership with GSN.”
“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.”
The WPT created a global phenomenon by making poker a televised spectator sport. Many poker programs have come and gone since the WPT began five years ago, but WPT remains the leader in poker entertainment. To date, the WPT has awarded over $300 million in cash prizes, crowned 69 WPT Poker-Made Millionaires™ and will tape its 100th episode this month. The WPT will air its fifth anniversary season on the Travel Channel, Wednesday nights at 9pm ET/PT. For more information or for a Season VI WPT schedule, please visit www.worldpokertour.com.
GSN began its foray into casino programming in 2004 with the World Series of Blackjack (WSOB). Still going strong today, WSOB’s fourth season premieres Monday, June 4. And, High Stakes Poker is GSN’s number-one rated original program in all key adult and male 18-49 and 25-54 demos.
For further media information: Visit GSN's corporate website at http://corp.GSN.com
Lyndsay LaGree/WPT PR
323 547 5827
llagree@worldpokertour.com
Cindy Ronzoni/GSN PR
310 255 6933
Cronzoni@gsn.com
About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and in more than 150 markets globally. With the WPT in its fifth season, WPTE has launched a second series on the Travel Channel, the Professional Poker Tour™, which focuses on the play of poker’s leading stars. WPT also operates a real-money online gaming website, www.wptonline.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted jurisdictions. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPTE is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media
About GSN
GSN is the entertainment industry leader in multi-platform interactive game programs. As the premier television network for games, GSN features challenging word games, high intensity casino programs, live participation shows, reality series and documentaries. GSN’s programming includes original series such as “Chain Reaction,” “Lingo” and “High Stakes Poker,” as well as the classics “Jeopardy” and “Pyramid,” among others. The network also introduced participation TV to America and its “PlayMania” block airs in late-night six nights per week. Complementing the network, GSN.com features all types of game play: innovative Flash games for fun, skill cash game tournaments and downloadable games. The website also features GSN’s two-screen interactive play-along for prime time shows. Now reaching more than 63 million homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN’s press website at corp.gsn.com.
Source: GSN Press Release
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