05Apr2007
BREAKING NEWS: WPT Moves to GSN for Season Six
World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc. has announced that season six of the World Poker Tour (WPT) will not air on the Travel Channel, as they have not exercised their option. Instead, WPTE has made an alliance with GSN for season six, with the option for at least two more seasons. This should be a good move for GSN, as their #1 rated show in the 18-34 demo is High Stakes Poker.
Season five of WPT premiered Wednesday on the Travel Channel, so expect season six to start in April 2008.
Alot of people won’t like this move but I don’t care because I do like Poker…
I think it is a great move. I personally like WPT better than HSP, mainly because I think it’s boring to see people play with their own money. The World Poker Tour is probably the one venue where some ‘Average Joe or Jill’ can win a seat at the final table, either by winning an online poker tournament, or paying a small entrance fee to a satellite tournament. I have seen WPT contestants who risked a measly $100 and end up winning over $100,000, just by finishing at least sixth place.
Probably the best thing that the WPT could do is move this show from a channel that is presently changing hands from Discovery to Cox then possibly Turner. Exotic locales notwithstanding, the WPT was simply out of place there. GSN will give the WPT a better place to play.
WPT is still the best “tournament” show, but, I’ve really warmed up to HSP, for two reasons:
1. I *DO* like the fact that, when someone lays out $150,000, it is REALLY $150,000, not $150,000 of whatever they have accumulated so far to win some amount at the end, and they only laid out $10-25,000 to enter the tournament.
2. The banter is much looser and free flowing on HSP that WPT or any of the other tournament shows. Probably because their isn’t a tournament “overlord” involved, plus its all the pros every week who know eachother and will dig into eachother.
IMHO, this is probably the biggest break GSN has had in years…
A big name such as the WPT, with a well-established and well-advertised fanbase finding their new home at GSN, is just what the network needs right now.
In the midst of the success of HSP, Playmania, and other shows (I’m not counting a certain WTF show), with the WPT in the mix, I see GSN’s ratings really improving (didn’t the WPT average about about a .8 rating or higher each night last year?), and GSN become a much more recognized/seen channel.
Maybe, in the best possible scenario, GSN will return to basic cable subscribers who have just lost it in the past year… :D
And yes, I enjoy the WPT greatly as well. Historically, Vince and Mike are great hosts, the players are fun to watch, and the locales are fun to see.
*Applauds GSN*
Maybe now, I’ll actually get to SEE the show, since I don’t even HAVE the Travel Channel here.
So that will basically kill the Travel Channel… As long as GSN doesn’t get the change to stick their hands into how the show is made and what goes on it, I will be happy. It does put quite a few people in the dark however as I do not know one cable network in the United States that has GSN on their “Standard” (Basic) cable lineup.
Here GSN is on the “Digital Games & Sports Tier” and many people complain because they have to pay $2.95 more per month for GSN (and 10 other sports networks like ESPN News, 3 FSN’s, Speed Channel, Outdoor Network, ect…)
Either way, this will be great news for GSN and since I know people from GSN have to read this… Hey GSN! Wednesday nights at 9:00PM and the Saturday replay just like it is right now… Keep it that way!
Here GSN is on the “Digital Games & Sports Tier” and many people complain because they have to pay $2.95 more per month for GSN (and 10 other sports networks like ESPN News, 3 FSN’s, Speed Channel, Outdoor Network, ect…)
Consider yourself lucky, out here if you have a satelite it’s in the children’s programming along with such gems as Treehouse TV, YTV and PBS at a cost of $4.95 per month (Canadian)
WPT will fit well into GSN’s casino night. The next best thign that could happen: The re-make or re-run Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown
Get Dish Network then it’s on their middle package $29.99/mth on channel 116
Echoing Erskine’s sentiment, I also don’t have The Travel Channel on my cable dial. It’s not even on the digital tier.
I have seen the WPT while out of town on vacation and have been impressed with the production.
Small suggestion for GSN: tie-ins, tie-ins, tie-ins. Have the WPT hosts and some of its regulars players play a week’s worth of “Lingo” for charity — as a way to sort of roll out the welcome mat for the WPT. Some poker-related puzzles/questions wouldn’t be a bad idea on “PlayMania”. Conversely, have a battle of the GSN stars in a special Hollywood Home Game with Chuck and Shandi from “Lingo”, Dylan from CR, Jessica and any other hosts from “PlayMania” and any other hosts from any other GSN original airing in ’08.
Well, it seems that GSN’s hit the three Joker’s so to speak here. Plus as mentioned not everybody has the Travel Channel, or GSN. Still, this would be very interesting to see what they do to roll out the red carpet for the WPT.
Well, I heard that GSN is ponying up $200,000 less per episode than Travel Channel did, but is promising $3,000,000 in promotions to bring people to GSN to watch. I hope this works for GSN and the WPT. with GSN’s slate of casino shows, this should fit right in. let’s just hope it doesn’t get lost.