Speed Poker Debuts in Australia

Speed Poker Debuts in Australia AUSTRALIA – As reported by the (Australia) Advertiser: "Speed poker, the newest, made-for-TV variation of the grand old card game, made its Australian debut at Melbourne's Crown casino yesterday - and it's all thanks to Keith `Bendigo' Sloan. "The new game, which pits six players against two dealers and a 15-second clock, with up to 100 hands dealt an hour, is the brainchild of the former Bendigo resident - better known to some as Mr Poker. "…The new game has attracted plenty of interest ahead of this weekend's inaugural World Speed Poker Championship at Crown this weekend. "…Almost $300,000 worth of prizemoney will be available in the World Speed Poker Championship, including $100,000 for the winner. "…Billed as a Poker Roller Coaster Ride, the speed version of the game aims to combine the pace of Internet poker with the thrill of the live game, where face-to-face, the elements of bluff, strategy, psychology and showmanship all come into play. "Games typically last for four to five hours, with up to 100 hands per hour played in that time…"

Extreme Poker Ltd. Announces Filming

Extreme Poker Ltd. Announces Filming: "Extreme Poker Ltd. Announces Filming" Extreme Poker Ltd. (OTC: EXTP) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to produce the pilot production of the reality T.V. program, "THE GREAT CANADIAN POKER TOURNAMENT." Extreme Poker Ltd., along with Pear Pillow Incorporated, will be producing the first episode of "THE GREAT CANADIAN POKER TOURNAMENT" on Friday January 21, 2005. The production will be available to networks within 2 weeks from filming. Full production, consisting of 13 episodes, will be made available upon acceptance by a national television broadcaster. The 12th and 13th episodes consisting of a grand tournament, concludes the reality series. The two episodes, 12 and 13, are open to the public at absolutely no cost of entry, and crowns one individual, "THE GREAT CANADIAN POKER CHAMPION." Extreme Poker Ltd. is in the process of providing licensed operations in other locations worldwide. Extreme Poker Ltd. has entered into discussions with representatives in Europe and South America. With continuity of theme, it is anticipated that ultimately a world champion player will be crowned. For more information, see our website at www.greatcdn.com

Poker broadcast being negotiated

Las Vegas SUN: Poker broadcast being negotiated By Liz Benston - Las Vegas Sun Harrah's Entertainment Inc. has hired a sports television consulting firm to help the company negotiate a broadcast agreement with ESPN and develop new programming related to the World Series of Poker tournament. Pilson Communications Inc., a company run by former CBS Sports President Neal Pilson, negotiated a $2.4 billion network television agreement with Fox, NBC and Turner to air NASCAR events and structured a $2 billion agreement to air the Olympics on NBC. Other clients include Major League Baseball and the Arena Football League. "I think poker is perhaps the hottest sport on television right now," Pilson said. "The ratings, I think, have surprised both Harrah's and ESPN and the entire industry." The World Series of Poker is also attracting demographic groups attractive to advertisers, especially young men ages 18 to 24, he said. Pilson declined to speculate on the kind of broadcast deal that would emerge from the talks and whether it would yield more money for Harrah's. He also declined to say whether other networks were interested in airing the tournament. "Harrah's has a terrific relationship with ESPN and we're looking to work with them," he said. "I think it's in ESPN's interest and ours to maximize coverage of the sport but at the same time we don't want to dilute the basic presentation of the World Series of Poker, which is the dominant brand in televised poker today." ESPN has aired the poker tournament, held at Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas, for the past seven years and has broadcast poker on television since 1994. Harrah's took ownership of the tournament last year, the same year of record turnout for the event as well as ESPN's highest ratings for the tournament. The existing broadcast contract with ESPN predates Harrah's purchase of the poker tournament. More than 2,500 players competed in the final no-limit Texas hold 'em championship game of the World Series of Poker last year. Harrah's is expected to host 5,000 players for this year's tournament, which runs through July 15. Harrah's recently created a separate World Series of Poker Tournament Circuit, a series of five poker tournaments that will run prior to the final championship event, to transform the month-long event into a year-round sport. ESPN will also be taping the main events in the circuit, which kicked off Friday in Atlantic City.

ESPN's poker series likely winner

Sports: ESPN's poker series likely winner By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer After sadly bowing to pressure from the NFL and scrapping its successful Playmakers series last year, ESPN is done licking its wounds. At 9 p.m. Thursday, it gets back into the business of the episodic series with Tilt, a drama based around the poker world (of course). Without NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue to deal with this time around, ESPN has crafted an edgy, dark but highly entertaining look at poker players in Las Vegas, hoping to cash in on the game's recent rise in status and popularity. After watching an advance copy of the first episode, it's clear ESPN will get two things out of its latest effort - a hit, and more controversy. The controversy will come from two scenes, neither of which forwards the plot of the series at all. In one, the series' main character, Don "The Matador" Everest (played by Michael Madsen), engages in a sex act in the bathroom. In another, an underground poker game among black players immediately turns into a gun-pointing near-shootout, while all the other games featured among white players in the pilot are calm and civilized events. Both scenes are pointless and could be deleted without harming the quality of the episode. Unless, of course, the whole idea is to inject something into the show that will get the critics in a lather and create some press. In that case, job well done. Created by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Rounders), Tilt shows a lot of promise. Set at the fictitious Colorado Casino in Las Vegas, the series revolves around the efforts of three young, beautiful (it's called artistic license) professional players who are backed by some syndicate hellbent on bringing the well-connected and dastardly Matador down at the upcoming World Poker Championships. A small-town cop is also on the Matador's trail after being cheated at a game. Tilt is not nearly as over-the-top as Playmakers was, and the acting is superior. Eddie Cibrian is believeable as the young hotshot poker player, and partners Kristin Lehman and Todd Williams play their parts just as well. Madsen is perfect in the role of the Matador. Whereas Playmakers portrayed football players as cheaters and philanderers, chances are there won't be too many professional poker players complaining about being portrayed as beautiful, well-dressed, well-meaning people trying to take down the bad guy. That, and the absence of a "poker commissioner," should ensure Tilt's survival and give viewers something Playmakers was never allowed to deliver. A second season.

It's Men vs. Women for Seven Episodes of GSN's 'POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES'

It's Men vs. Women for Seven Episodes of GSN's 'POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES' Syndicated Radio Personality Tom Leykis and Kennedy Represent Their Respective Sex And Spar As Hosts The World's Finest Poker Players Ante Up Including Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Paul Wolfe, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Harman, and Clonie Gowen Poker Royale Inaugurates GSN's New Casino Night Friday, January 21 Do men have the advantage over women in the game of poker? GSN, the network for games, dares to find out pitting 12 of the world's top professional poker players together in a no-holds barred poker tournament like never before seen. POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES, is a seven episode invitational tournament hosted by syndicated radio personality Tom Leykis, who is known for defense of the male species. This marks Leykis' first hosting duties on television. He is joined as host by Kennedy, the outspoken TV and game show veteran, who proudly represents the female voice. Also joining them as the play-by-play commentator is Robert Williamson III, one of the most respected and skilled poker players around. The announcement was made today by Ian Valentine, Senior Vice President of Programming, GSN. POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES will break new ground when it premieres on GSN's new Friday Casino Night, January 21 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Immediately following POKER ROYALE is WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK featuring the world's finest blackjack players vying for their chance to win the $250,000 grand prize. "Based on the success of our first poker series, we wanted to follow with a second installment with a unique twist. POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES is entertaining and engaging for players of every skill level," said Valentine. Valentine continues, "There's a real ongoing debate in the poker world as to whether the women are as good as the men. We sit our viewers right at the table to watch the play and hear the banter." Leykis, the controversial sharp tongued broadcast radio personality, will undoubtedly root for the men. The "Tom Leykis Show" has been syndicated from Los Angeles since 1994, and has developed its reputation as a forum on male/female issues. In the ladies corner is TV personality Kennedy, who will lend her sassiness to the women's corner. Kennedy began her career as a radio DJ on LA's KROQ-FM, and later became known as a witty MTV VJ. Most recently, she was host of GSN's FRIEND OR FOE? and mediated over WHO WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA?, GSN's game show about California's historic Governor recall election. POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES includes the world's top players including Chris Moneymaker (2003 World Series of Poker 1st place), Paul Wolfe (2003 World Championship Online Poker final runner up), Greg "Fossilman" Raymer (2004 World Series of Poker 1st place), Amir Vahedi (2001 No Limit Texas Hold'em Player of the Year), Layne Flack (5 Time World Series of Poker Champion) and Antonio Esfandiari (World Poker Tour first place champion). In the women's corner are Kathy Liebert (2002 Party Poker Million champion), Jennifer Harman (World Poker Tour Bellagio 4th place), Evelyn Ng (World Poker Tour Ladies Night 2nd place), Karina Jett, Kristy Gazes (2001 World Series of Poker Shoe 5th place) and Clonie Gowen (World Poker Tour Ladies Night champion). In each of the first six episodes of POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES three men and three women from the teams of men and women will play a game of No Limit Texas Hold'Em. Every episode champion wins $10,000 and six points. The player who finishes second receives five points, third place receives four points, fourth place receives three points, fifth place receives two points and last place receives one point. In the seventh episode's final match, the top three point leaders for the men and women will face off for the championship. The winner of the tournament takes home $100,000 and wins an extra $30,000 to be split among the remaining team members. GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, light sports, documentaries and casino games. GSN is the industry leader in interactivity and as such allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 56 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.