GSN and poker?

I've been keeping up on things in the poker world, not a closely as I would like lately since the kids are out of school, but still staying fairly informed.
From listening to the PokerCast on 2+2 several weeks back with Mori Eskandani, and another with Berry Greenstein, and watching an interview with Phil Laak on CardPlayer TV, the future is very much in doubt for High Stakes Poker. I know that is somewhat old news now, but now I am wondering what will happen to WPT broadcasts, if like Phil Laak suggests, the new president of GSN thinks poker is bad or immoral.
I heard that Poker After Dark will be airing an episode or more of a high stakes game, but it sounded like it would only be a few shows.
Are there any rumors of what the future may hold for the WPT? And are any other TV networks possibly picking up the rights to HSP?

I want MORE good poker on TV, not less!

I hate the WPT being on GSN. Now the tourny is on like 3-4 times max a week. When the WPT was on the Travel Channel, I could randomly turn on the channel and one of any of the WPT tournies could be randomly on. There was also random marathons on the WPT on. I loved when WPT was on the Travel Channel.

GOOD NEWS for WPT fans!!!

GSN appears to have no interest in televising poker events. They didn't renew the contract to aire additional High Stakes Poker episodes, and last month allowed the WPT renewal option to lapse, WPT | About Us | WPT ENTERPRISES OPENS DISCUSSIONS FOR SEASON VII TELEVISION BROADCAST RIGHTS.

The GOOD NEWS, as posted on PokerRoad.com, Poker Industry News, Poker Radio and Poker Video Content at PokerRoad.com, is the WPT will continue to aire; but Season VII will be on Fox Sports Network.

World Poker Tour: We're Baaaaaaaack!
2008 July, 17

The announcement that the poker community has been anticipating is finally public – and yes, it's good news. According to the official press release:

"WPT Enterprises, Inc. and Fox Sports Network announced today a partnership and broadcast license for Season VII of the World Poker Tour® (WPT) television series. FSN, the nation’s leading provider of local sports, received exclusive rights to air 26 all-new one hour WPT episodes in the United States across its national sports cable network."

This is seemingly amazing news for the World Poker Tour, poker fans, and the poker business as a whole. Fox Sports Net will certainly lend credibility to an industry struggling for legitimacy in the public eye right now. Also, FSN is available on many more cable networks and will attract many more eyes to the WPT than it ever had on Travel Channel or GSN.

The broadcast schedule is yet to be announced - PokerNews is reporting the show will air "each Sunday evening, somewhere in the 'prime time' (6-10 pm) hours"; however, we do know that today's Bellagio Cup IV final table will be the first episode on the new FSN broadcast which will include 26 one-hour episodes (presumably two per event).

A lot of people are going to breathe a collective sigh of relief at hearing this news, including us here at PokerRoad who are amazingly happy that our friends at the WPT found what looks like to be a great home.

Wow I called this one. I said in an earlier thread that WPT on Fox Sports was a great match and sure enough they got the deal done. Fox is totally on board with the poker phenomenon, and the GSN President is a moron ... how can you let your 4 top rated shows leave your network!? If I was a sponsor, you'd leave right along with those shows, right? Right.

Similar things will happen to the other shows, they will follow to either Fox or another network. if a show gets ratings, it stays on TV.

icemonkey9 said:

Wow I called this one. I said in an earlier thread that WPT on Fox Sports was a great match and sure enough they got the deal done. Fox is totally on board with the poker phenomenon, and the GSN President is a moron ... how can you let your 4 top rated shows leave your network!? If I was a sponsor, you'd leave right along with those shows, right? Right.

Similar things will happen to the other shows, they will follow to either Fox or another network. if a show gets ratings, it stays on TV.

Click to expand...

Ove rhere, Comcast bought FSN so now it's called the channel is called Comcast Sportsnet. It's a good place for it. Besides, what else can they show except Best Damn Sports Show and Final Score.

Go to Card Player TV, Poker Videos - News, Interviews, Strategy, Lifestyle and Tournament Coverage, to see the interview with WPT and FSN Execs regarding the new home for the WPT. This looks like GREAT stuff in store for all of us WPT fans!!!