Jeff Haney on the World Poker Tour’s switch to an obscure channel, and the fans forced to upgrade or do without

By Jeff Haney

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Not everyone is thrilled about the imminent move of the World Poker Tour to cable channel GSN, “the Network for Games,” from its longtime TV home on the Travel Channel.

Dennis Soucy of Las Vegas, a poker fan who has followed the World Poker Tour since its inception in 2002, was disappointed by news of the switch, which was announced last spring and is expected to take effect shortly.

Soucy, a Cox cable customer, subscribes to the company’s “expanded basic” tier of channels, which includes the Travel Channel (Cox cable Channel 66) but not GSN, which is Channel 344 on digital cable.

“I don’t get the digital tier, and I refuse to pay the extra money to receive GSN,” said Soucy, who already pays $103 a month for expanded basic cable and high-speed Internet — “way too much for what I get.”

Soucy figures it would cost at least $9 more a month to upgrade, but hesitates to do so on principle, even if it means missing out on the sixth season of World Poker.

“I’m already paying for too many channels I have no use for,” Soucy said, citing several Spanish-language channels on expanded basic cable he never watches.

GSN, formerly called the Game Show Network, picked up the rights to World Poker after the Travel Channel opted out of its deal with the tournament circuit, which features events worldwide and includes regular stops at the Bellagio, the Mirage and Mandalay Bay.

GSN agreed to pay World Poker $300,000 for each of 23 episodes in Season 6, which began in May and is to conclude with the World Poker Championship on April 19-26 at the Bellagio. Tournaments air three to seven months after they take place.

Officials with GSN plan to make the World Poker Tour part of the channel’s Monday night gambling lineup, which includes the hit “High Stakes Poker” as well as blackjack tournaments.

Las Vegas isn’t the only market in which GSN resides on a tier of specialty channels, making it harder to reach some viewers. Overall, GSN is available to about 63 million households, compared with an estimated 89 million for the Travel Channel.

“Obviously the World Poker Tour is a very popular show,” Soucy said. “I know I’m not the only one disappointed about this.”

Heads-up tourney

The field of 64 is coming together for the fourth National Heads-Up Poker Championship, scheduled for Feb. 29 to March 2 at Caesars Palace.

World Series of Poker champion Jerry Yang tops a list of players expected to make their National Heads-Up debut, according to NBC, which televises the event.

World Poker Tour champs Bill Edler and Jonathan Little, 2007 World Series player of the year Tom Schneider, World Series heads-up winner Daniel Schreiber, and online poker stars Brian “sbrugby” Townsend and Tom “durrrr” Dwan are also expected to compete for the first time, according to NBC.

The field, heavy on professional poker players, is expected to include a small number of celebrities such as Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett and Orel Hershiser.

Poker for a cause

Caesars will host its third annual no-limit Texas hold ’em celebrity poker tournament to benefit Opportunity Village at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.

A $10,000 seat in the World Series of Poker main event will be awarded.

The tournament is open to the public and carries a $500 buy-in with unlimited rebuys available through the sixth round for $300. A “second chance” tournament will also be conducted for players who bust out early. A VIP reception for the tournament, $50 for those not playing in the benefit tournaments, will take place at Pure nightclub.

Register at opportunityvillage.com.