PokerWorks

In July of 2008, WPT Enterprises announced that it has signed a broadcast deal with Fox Sports to air Season 7 of the World Poker Tour. Though few details have emerged about the air dates of the show on Fox Sports Network, information was released about another new collaboration between FSN and WPT. That second show has officially been announced as ClubWPT.com.

The new series called ClubWPT.com will debut on Sunday, October 5th at 4pm local time and will be repeated later that night at 11pm. That spot will officially become the timeslot of the ClubWPT.com show to air each week for an unspecified length of time.

The premise of the show is to give amateur poker players a chance at poker fame on national TV. Players will win their seats to the show via WPT’s online subscription website, as qualifying tournaments will run six nights per week at 10pm ET at ClubWPT.com. Members of the website from the United States and Canada will compete for prizes on the website and seats on the show of the same name, and winners will then compete in a live tournament taped for broadcast on Fox Sports Net.

Competitors on the TV show will receive roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles on Southwest Airlines, a two-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, along with spending money and VIP services. Players will then be transported to the ClubWPT.com lounge where the tournament will be played, while FSN sportscaster Barry Tompkins and “Live at the Bike” announcer Bart Hansen will provide commentary and strategy. The hostess for the show will be Alison Waite.

WPT founder, President, and CEO Steve Lipscomb said, “Poker is the only sport that allows the everyday Joe to go up against the professionals and win life-changing money and celebrity status. And we all want to be in that seat, but most of us don’t have the opportunity to invest the time or money to be a pro and play in big casinos games. ClubWPT.com gives you the opportunity - six nights a week, in your own home - to win a seat on national television and the chance to live the dream.”

George Greenberg, FSN Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, added, “The World Poker Tour, the most respected brand name in poker, has long been the leader in poker innovation and they continue that trend with this series. ClubWPT.com is the premier place offering amateur poker players the opportunity to experience the status and cache usually reserved for the biggest names in poker.”