WPTE, Travel Channel resume PPT talks

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Friday, Sept. 30, 2005

WPTE, Travel Channel resume PPT talks

By Lianne Elias

WPT Enterprises, Inc. (WPTE) confirmed yesterday it has resumed discussions with The Travel Channel, LLC (TRV) to produce the Professional Poker Tour (PPT) television series.

Following a third party's withdrawal of a previous offer to purchase the broadcasting rights to the new WPTE television show, WPTE re-entered negotiations with TRV to create an agreement which would see TRV broadcast the PPT series as well as all other WPTE productions.

The PPT will pit select professional poker players against one another in invitational tournaments with huge pots and big action. Extensive qualification guidelines are in place to ensure that players invited to compete are strictly la crème de la crème of the professional poker playing world. No amateurs or semi-pros will be featured on the PPT, which has already aired 5 episodes on the World Poker Tour (WPT).

Notwithstanding the current talks, WPTE and TRV remain locked in legal proceedings launched last Monday, September 19. The lawsuit was filed by WPTE against TRV and its parent company Discovery Communications, Inc (DCI) in the Los Angeles Superior Court and sees the WPTE suing for breach of contract and intentional interference. WPTE claims TRV unlawfully interfered with third party negotiations to broadcast PPT. TRV and DCI have filed their answer and cross-complaint as well as a motion for judgment on the pleadings.

Despite the current dispute, both firms assert that they are committed to continuing to develop the WPT franchise together. The WPT television series is ranked as the most successful show ever broadcast on The Travel Channel and is credited with having sparked the current poker boom.