http://www.eog.com/news/full-article.aspx?id=37742
GSN May Pull World Poker Tour and High Stakes Poker from Broadcast
The two most popular and highest-earning poker TV shows seem to be in danger of being left without a home. Both World Poker Tour and High Stakes Poker have long been the most highly-regarded poker shows on television, but GSN (Game Show Network) seems to be showing some reluctance to continue broadcasting these shows.
With to the departure of long-time GSN CEO Rich Cronin last year and the arrival of former Universal Television group head David Goldhill, the focus at GSN seems to have shifted away from these poker shows and the future of poker on GSN looks dubious.
The option to broadcast Season VII of the World Poker Tour lapsed on June 7 and it seems that both parties are hedging their bets when it comes to working something out. In a press release, Goldhill stated that they are "continuing discussions with WPTE regarding how [they] may be able to work together ? including perhaps broadcasting parts of Season VII.? This is hardly comforting news for the WPT, which has seen a sharp decline in the value over the past few years, falling from a projected value of $500 million to just $27 million. In the meantime, the WPT is said to be in discussions with "major networks" to broadcast worth the possibility of showing Season VII on multiple networks.
High Stakes Poker is the highest-grossing show for GSN in the 18-49 demo, but production has yet to start on the next season, sparking the "HSP axed" speculation. However, rumor is that, of the two poker shows, HSP will most likely survive and live to fight another day, but possibly on a smaller budget. The official decision has yet to be made by GSN. That will happen later this week.
http://www.eog.com/news/full-article.aspx?id=37742
GSN May Pull World Poker Tour and High Stakes Poker from Broadcast
The two most popular and highest-earning poker TV shows seem to be in danger of being left without a home. Both World Poker Tour and High Stakes Poker have long been the most highly-regarded poker shows on television, but GSN (Game Show Network) seems to be showing some reluctance to continue broadcasting these shows.
With to the departure of long-time GSN CEO Rich Cronin last year and the arrival of former Universal Television group head David Goldhill, the focus at GSN seems to have shifted away from these poker shows and the future of poker on GSN looks dubious.
The option to broadcast Season VII of the World Poker Tour lapsed on June 7 and it seems that both parties are hedging their bets when it comes to working something out. In a press release, Goldhill stated that they are "continuing discussions with WPTE regarding how [they] may be able to work together ? including perhaps broadcasting parts of Season VII.? This is hardly comforting news for the WPT, which has seen a sharp decline in the value over the past few years, falling from a projected value of $500 million to just $27 million. In the meantime, the WPT is said to be in discussions with "major networks" to broadcast worth the possibility of showing Season VII on multiple networks.
High Stakes Poker is the highest-grossing show for GSN in the 18-49 demo, but production has yet to start on the next season, sparking the "HSP axed" speculation. However, rumor is that, of the two poker shows, HSP will most likely survive and live to fight another day, but possibly on a smaller budget. The official decision has yet to be made by GSN. That will happen later this week.
http://www.eog.com/news/full-article.aspx?id=37742