WPT Enterprises, creator of the World Poker Tour, announced Friday that PokerStars will be the official international television sponsor for WPT Season VII. The world’s largest online poker room will receive title sponsorship and exclusive in-show brand integration when shows air in Canada, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
PokerStars and the WPT will also work together to create localized Spanish/Portuguese-language programs featuring native commentators for specific territories in Latin America. The launch should be smooth for PokerStars, which already broadcasts live action of the European Poker Tour in a variety of languages.
“TV sponsorship is an important part of our business, so having the biggest company in the poker industry jump on board is an exciting way to start international distribution of Season VII”, said WPT Founder and CEO Steve Lipscomb. “We look forward to working with PokerStars as we roll out the latest WPT programming to fans in these territories.”
PokerStars got its first shot as a sponsor on the World Poker Tour in 2004 at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. In 2008, the event moved from the WPT to the European Poker Tour (EPT). PokerStars is now the headline sponsor and part owner of the EPT, Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), and Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT).
PokerStars will have its name attached to the international broadcasts of Season VII much like Full Tilt Poker is the official sponsor for the episodes airing in the United States and Mexico. The two companies announced an agreement in November that gives Full Tilt similar “title sponsorship, exclusive in-show educational or gaming site and brand integration.”
Season VII began airing on Fox Sports Net (FSN) on January 4, 2009. FSN is the third network home for the WPT. The Travel Channel ended its relationship with WPTE after its first five seasons. GSN picked up the show but upper management changes sealed its fate as the new bosses decided to move away from gambling-themed shows.
Fox Sports Net airs WPT programming one hour at a time, as the 13 events are broken down into 26 episodes. FSN also shows brand new ClubWPT events, which features players that qualified via the company’s subscription-based online poker site.
There is no word yet on official dates for WPT Season VII episodes airing in Canada, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
