Based on the
success of the network's blackjack casino
programming, GSN, the network for games, is now
expanding into the poker business with POKER
ROYALE: THE WPPA CHAMPIONSHIP, an exclusive
six-episode series sponsored by Pizza Hut
featuring the country's best players. GSN's foray
into poker includes three World Series of Poker
champions -- Chris Moneymaker, Carlos Mortensen
and Kathy Liebert. The show also includes other
highly skilled players, and will feature an added
bonus -- the chance for the tournament champ and a
GSN viewer to split an additional $10 million
grand prize in the final episode. During the
telecast of the final episode on January 11, the
winner will be dealt five cards, if it's a full
house or better, the player and the sweepstakes
winner will split $10 million dollars.
The series
debuts Tuesday, December 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, and
covers the first tournament organized by the World
Poker Players Association (WPPA), headed by Louis
J. Asmo, recently held at Las Vegas' Orleans Hotel
and Casino. The series follows the classic No
Limit Hold'em rules established by the WPPA which
reward skill over luck.
In making the
announcement, GSN's Senior Vice President of
Programming Ian Valentine said: "We know that
poker fans across the country will enjoy watching
this brand of poker and appreciate the additional
skill required to come out at the top. It's
fantastic that we are adding competitive poker to
our programming schedule with some of the game's
top professionals and amateurs."
The over 50
million poker players in the country will enjoy
the action of this event which features No Limit
Texas Holdem with buy-ins and blinds (a bet put in
play before any cards are dealt) designed to
emphasize skill over luck. The tournament will
showcase the true skill of the players, both
professional and amateur, as they climb up the
tournament ladder. POKER ROYALE will include a
unique graphic enhancement, giving insight to each
of the player's hands and the strategy behind
them. GSN's coverage will also center upon the
skill and expertise of the player, highlighting
player strategy, including bluffs and tells as
well as the player tournament background. With 22
cameras covering the action at the featured table,
viewers will have a bird's eye view of how each
expert plays his/her hand.
POKER ROYALE:
THE WPPA CHAMPIONSHIP is being sponsored by Pizza
HutŪ, which recently introduced the "Full House XL
Pizza(TM)." As the show's main sponsor, Pizza Hut
will be the title sponsor of the "Full House"
poker tip of the day which will be included in
each episode. As previously mentioned, GSN will
have a sweepstakes with the winner getting a
chance to split $10,000,000 with the winner of the
poker tournament. In each of the six episodes, a
password will be given out and viewers will be
asked to log onto poker.gsn.com and enter the
password, qualifying them into the final drawing
on January 11. During the final episode, one last
password will be given, and viewers will have 30
minutes to log on and enter it. In a random
drawing GSN will pick the winner's name and
announce it on air. At the end of the episode,
live from the Orleans Hotel, the tournament winner
will be dealt five cards. If they draw a full
house or better they split $10,000,000; if they
don't draw a full house or better each will walk
away with $10,000 and a year supply of Pizza Hut
pizza.
