World Poker Tour and GSN Team up to Launch Integrated Website, WPTonGSN.com
WPTonGSN.com Aligns Two Brand Initiatives to Deliver One Fan Experience
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE) and its new network partner, GSN,
are collaborating on an innovative business model where networks and
production companies team up to reach fans together. The two companies —
who signed a deal in 2007 to air Season VI of the World Poker Tour®
(WPT) on GSN, premiering Monday, March 24 at 9pm ET/PT —
have taken their partnership online, aligning their business objectives
and consumer offering with the launch of a new website, www.WPTonGSN.com.
The new site provides a built-in call to action for viewers to find the
World Poker Tour show on GSN while featuring both brands on one website. www.WPTonGSN.com
delivers new information each week tailored to the final table airing on
GSN, taking fans beyond the 2-hour show to experience with
behind-the-scenes footage, player history, archived WPT Live Updates,
statistics, as well as unique GSN content offerings.
The site also features exclusive previews, show clips, a GSN channel
locater, airdate schedules, episode guides, announcer biographies —
including new hostess, Layla Kayleigh — and
complete Season VI WPT details. Additional content and features will
become available as the WPT season premieres on GSN.
“WPTonGSN.com is the one-stop shop for
everything poker fans would want in a website,”
said Jamie Roberts, Senior Vice President of Programming, GSN. “It
provides exclusive content, features, information and much more about
the new season of the WPT as it premieres on its new network home, GSN.”
The two brands are also teaming up to deliver multiple consumer
promotions to further engage World Poker Tour fans on GSN. Beginning
March 24th, the WPT VIP Sweepstakes, in
association with Southwest Airlines will prompt fans watching the show
to text in or visit www.WPTonGSN.com
to enter for a chance to win WPT VIP prizes such as WPT Boot Camp
experiences, WPT Cruises and more. Additionally, WPT and GSN will be
running a contest on GSN Live, giving away five trips to Las Vegas where
the winners can compete in the WPT Ladies Championship tournament at the
Bellagio on April 13th and 14th.
Women are a rising force in poker and the two brands are positioned to
deliver content and experiences that will foster growth and support of
ladies who watch and play.
“The ink was still wet on our network deal
when WPT and GSN came together to find the very best way to support both
brand initiatives while still delivering a unified message to consumers,”
said WPT Founder, President and CEO, Steve Lipscomb. “In
a time where the television industry is working to come back together,
we are grateful to have a network partner who supports innovative ideas
that bring the brands together to deliver the ultimate experience for
fans and viewers.”
About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the
creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products
driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised
programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World
Poker Tour®, a television show based on a
series of high-stakes poker tournaments that will begin broadcasting in
the United States on its new network home, GSN, in March 2008. WPT is
licensed for broadcast globally. WPTE also offers a real-money online
gaming website which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other
restricted jurisdictions. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies
in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing,
electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino
games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of
corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker
play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com.
WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes
Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO).
About GSN
GSN is an industry-leading, game content provider distributing
competition programming through its 66-million subscriber cable
television network and its casual and skill-based online games site,
GSN.com. As the premier television network for games, GSN produces some
of the most popular original casino and game show series on TV today.
GSN.com features all types of game play: Flash games for fun and skill
cash game tournaments. GSN is distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada
by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos. The
company is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty
Media Corporation. For further information, visit GSN’s
press website at corp.gsn.com.
WPT PR
Lyndsay LaGree, 
323-547-5827
llagree@worldpokertour.com
or
GSN
PR
Cindy Ronzoni, 310-255-6933
cronzoni@gsn.com