World Poker Tour to Sue Travel Channel

Filed in archive Poker on September 21, 2005

Looks like all is not happy in the poker TV wars.

As more and more poker shows infiltrate leisure and sports tv channels across the world, the big guys, World Poker Tour Enterprises is to sue its distributors, the Travel channel and Discovery Communications for alleged interference into plans to develop another show on ESPN

Naturally, the Travel Channel denies all allegations - and plan to defend their rights under the existing contract

Basically - WPT and Travel Channel have a deal that allows WPT to create other poker programming as long as the Travel Channel has first right to refusal to licence the show.

WPT did just that - and created 'Professional Poker Tour' and claimed that Travel Channel didn't take it up in a specifed time window - so they offered it to other channels, including ESPN. And things spiralled downwards from there.

Lets hope each side has their best poker face - cos things could get interesting

Read Article: World Poker Tour owner plays hand in court