Online Poker News » October 2005
» October 31, 2005.
World Poker Tour Announced A Keystone In UK’s ITV4, Debuting November 1.
(Los Angeles, CA) - WPT Enterprises, Inc. announced today that it has inked an agreement for its WORLD POKER TOUR(R) television series to be featured programming when the UK's much-anticipated ITV4 network kicks off on November 1. ITV4 is the latest addition to the powerful ITV family of networks broadcasting in the United Kingdom. The new network is an "entertainment channel providing quality programming to a discerning, up-market audience with a male bias." "This is a great beginning for our new integrated world strategy," said Steve Lipscomb, CEO and founder of WPT Enterprises, Inc. "The WPT has found a strong partnership in the U.K. to build our brand and bring our programming to the millions of viewers that ITV reaches. The poker mania that the WORLD POKER TOUR inspired in the U.S. is taking hold in the U.K. with a vengeance and this partnership will continue to make us a driving force in the second largest poker market in the world."
The deal grants ITV4 exclusive rights in the U.K. to broadcast the first two seasons of the WORLD POKER TOUR - widely acknowledged as the show that launched the international poker boom. With the biggest names in poker, millions of dollars in prize money on the line and "A-list" celebrity specials - the seventy-two hours of programming will be a strong addition to the ITV4 male-targeted lineup.
The ITV4 launch will serve as a springboard for the WORLD POKER TOUR's international online poker venture, wptonline.com, in the United Kingdom. The WPT online primary room will be the sponsor of the show. The broadcasts will also bolster its emerging consumer products program in the region.
Launching on November 1, ITV4 characterizes itself as "elegant, stylish and just a little dangerous...offering challenging drama; comedy that pushes boundaries; and movies that won't stick to the mainstream, as well as live and exclusive UEFA Champions League and World class boxing."
In addition to the WORLD POKER TOUR, ITV4 will broadcast the first U.K. airings of a number of series' including Kojak starring Ving Rhames; Crank Yankers (puppets playing havoc with the American public) and William Shatner's send up of Hollywood, the outrageous hoax, Invasion Iowa.
"We are extremely pleased to make the WORLD POKER TOUR part of ITV4's exciting launch line up, " said ITV4 Channel Editor Steve Arnell. "We have seen what the show has done for broadcasters in the U.S. and abroad. It has developed a large and devoted fan base worldwide and we believe it will be an important addition to the ITV4 schedule."
The WPT launched the poker phenomenon when it first aired on the Travel Channel in the U.S. on March 30, 2003, and it continues to lead the way in developing poker as a major international sport. Viewers and aspiring tour players can log on to www.worldpokertour.com for ways to improve their game and to follow the Tour. The highest rated show ever on The Travel Channel, the WPT is now seen in more than 120 countries and territories worldwide. WORLD POKER TOUR(R) airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Travel Channel in the U.S. and will air every Friday night at 10:00 pm in prime-time on ITV-4 in the UK.
Source: WPT Press Release
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