With just over 38 days until it broadcasts its first programming, the new 24/7 poker television network Poker Central is ramping up its drive for suitable shows to put on the air. Just this last week, two new programs were announced as a part of the inaugural schedule for the network when it hits the air on October 1.
“These two new series are perfect examples of Poker Central’s commitment to providing unprecedented coverage of the poker world and insider access to the incredibly talented professionals who make the game so compelling for viewers around the world,” said Dan Russell, senior vice president of Programming & Production at Poker Central. The two new programs are just an inkling of the potential that Poker Central has as a network for the true poker aficionado.
The first program is a docuseries called Pokerography. Along the lines of the YES Network’s Yankeeography, Pokerography will be a half-hour program that will look at the men and women who make up the ranks of the professionals in our game. “Each episode will explore the individual behind the legend – and, in their own words,” the tease from Poker Central’s announcement dictates. “Detailed interviews from poker’s greatest champions reveal their fascinating backstories. Interviews with family, friends, professional rivals, and expert poker-analysts dig deeper into their legacies.” After beginning production in April of this year, such players as Phil Hellmuth, Michael Mizrachi, Antonio Esfandiari, Vanessa Selbst and Jennifer Harman have all canned episodes ready to air sometime in the first quarter of 2016.
The second program will bring tournament director extraordinaire Matt Savage to a television near you. Called Inside Poker, Savage will host a talk show that delves into some of the issues that face the poker community from location across the United States. From Foxwoods in Connecticut to the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, Savage will bring in players, industry insiders and others who will bring viewers up to date on the “hot button” issues of the day. Savage will also join the players for informative poker tips and tricks the viewers can use in their play. Taping began on Inside Poker on August 16 and should also be available in the first quarter of 2016.
The two programs go along with some of the other program that has already been aired by Poker Central. The NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) has been showing the Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout over the past few weeks, giving poker fans a taste of what Poker Central might be about. The reason there is a “might” in that statement is that there is little information about what other programming might make its way to Poker Central’s branch of the airwaves (or cable waves, if we want to be precise).
If Poker Central is looking to put on past tournaments from either the World Poker Tour, the World Series of Poker or the European Poker Tour (the EPT is something that, in the United States, would be unique), it would take some serious money to pull the rights (especially from ESPN). There are other gambling programs that might be able to be picked up for a smaller price, such as the prop betting show between Phil Laak and Esfandiari called I Bet You or even their 2014 show Underground Poker, which showed the twosome going to different towns for (usually) illegal poker games of varying levels of cost. Finally, if Poker Central is truly desperate to fill the 24/7 spectrum, such past television gems as VegaS, Las Vegas or other gambling-centric series or theatrical movies could find their way back to the small screen.
What Poker Central won’t lack for is leadership. Helmed by Russell, a 26-year veteran of the Discovery Channel, and Sid Eshleman (a former Chief Distribution Officer with Discovery, AMC and Turner Broadcasting), Poker Central should have knowledgeable people at the top that will be able to guide the channel through its initial startup. According to Clint Stinchcomb, the Chief Executive Officer of Poker Central, both Russell and Eshleman are “in high gear” to meet the October 1 debut for the channel.
What else will come from the minds behind Poker Central? When it hits the airwaves, there are sure to be some surprises in store for poker and its fans.
Please, do NOT put on shows about illegal games and “gambling.” Many of us have fought way too hard to get poker accepted and recognized as a game ofskill, sometimes in state-by-state legal battles. Currently it is a felonly in the state of Washington to play online poker, and the online choices are mostly bad with PokerStats out of the picture. I could tell you some horror stories about how charity poker rooms are regulated in Michigan. the controling law in Michigan is–the BINGO act.
Don’t don’t broadcast anything that makes the situation worse than it already.
Hello Cliff,
Certainly get where you are coming from with those sentiments and I am pretty sure that Poker Central has taken that into consideration. With that said, there were plenty of documentary style programs done (one I remember is “Breaking Vegas”) that would fall into what you’re saying that I could definitely see on the channel.
You’re correct, it’s a tough situation in many states, especially those you mention. I can see Poker Central, however, not being concerned with the “politics” of the game and just trying to put on an enjoyable channel.
Thanks for reading!
EB