AUTHOR: Jerry "Jet" Whittaker TITLE: GSN Antes Up For Poker Tourney DATE: 10:23 AM ----- BODY: California-based GSN placed a $7 million bet that broadcasting the World
Poker Tour will pay off, ending the tournament's five-year run on the Travel
Channel. The game show cable network will carry 23 two-hour segments at a
base cost of about $300,000 each plus bonuses of up to $35,000 per episode
based on rating levels, Variety reported Monday. GSN also grabbed an option
for two more years of WPT coverage. The move strengthen's GSN's brand and
helps position its weekly casino-themed night, Rich Cronin, network
president, said. "We are thrilled to be able to bring the World Poker Tour
to GSN," Cronin said in a news release. "By adding WPT to our existing
lineup of compelling gaming entertainment, GSN will be at the head of the
poker table." Cronin said GSN's also renewed "High Stakes Poker" for another
season. World Poker Tour officials see GSN as a better fit than the Travel
Channel, which did not exercise the its option for season No. 6. "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 WPT President Steve
Lipscomb. --------