Spike to televise U.S. Poker Championship

The U.S. Poker Championship is returning to the national spotlight thanks to a new high profile television deal.

The $5,000 main event, which takes place at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, will be broadcast on the edgy Spike network thanks to an agreement with Las Vegas-based production company Compass Entertainment LLC.

"It's hugely exciting to have the USPC back on national TV," said Tom Gitto, director of poker operations at the Taj Mahal. "We knew that in order to ensure that the USPC would be more attractive to poker players we would need a solid TV deal."

Compass Entertainment was responsible for filming the poker movie Deal with Burt Reynolds and Shannon Elizabeth along with the reality TV show Rounder Life.

"We are ecstatic to be teamed up with Trump Entertainment and we look forward to delivering a top notch production," said a spokesperson for Compass Entertainment.

The U.S. Poker Championship will run Nov. 2-24, 2009, with a total of 24 events on the schedule. The series will culminate with the $5,000 main event, which begins Nov. 20.

"The entire Trump organization is firmly committed to doing something special each year to make the USPC sizzle, so this year we've added a $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship event, which will be televised as well," added Gitto.

Since its inception in 1996 the USPC has been frequented by poker greats like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Erik Seidel, John Juanda, T.J. Cloutier and Phil Hellmuth.

For a complete look at the schedule click here or to reserve a seat in the tournament go here.