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The World Poker Tour has been a major hit since its inception in 2002. The
combination of big buy-in tournaments at the most exclusive casino resorts in
the world and top professional players facing off against unknown qualifiers -
not to mention the innovative "hole cam" that allows viewers to see what cards
each player has as a hand progresses - have combined to make the WPT a cable
ratings giant for the Travel Channel. Now Steven Lipscomb, creator of the WPT,
has a new card up his sleeve - the Professional Poker Tour. The PPT has
already completed its first season, and its creators will continue its
development by bringing it to television in the near future.
The PPT differs from the WPT in several important ways. The first, and most
noticeable, is that the PPT is limited to what its organizers call "the top
250 players in the world." In practice, that means that only select players
will be given a PPT card - much like a PGA Tour card in golf - that allows
them to play events. Winning major tournaments (such as WPT events or the WSOP
Main Event), making multiple final tables in major events, and being
recommended by the PPT Advisory Committee are just a few of the ways of
getting a card. (A full list of qualifications for a card can be found
here.)
The second big difference is that players never have to put up any of their
own money to compete in PPT events. All the prize pool comes from sponsors,
making each PPT tournament a freeroll for everyone who competes in it. A third
difference is that unlike the WPT, where players may take as much time as they
wish to make a decision in any particular hand, PPT players will only have 90
seconds once the action has come to them. (Online players will be able to
sympathize with the pressure of these situations!) Finally, players will be
allowed to wear sponsorship logos.
 The presentation of the PPT will differ from the WPT in several ways as well.
Where Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten would sit during a WPT event, you'll
find Mark Seif and Matt Corboy during PPT events. Seif is a well-known
professional player who is sponsored by Absolute Poker and won back-to-back
WSOP events in 2005. Corboy is an actor who has appeared in several movies and
television series, including a recurring role on the FX drama "The Shield" and
a role in the independent poker film The Big Blind. The coverage of
each tournament will also be expanded from what viewers are accustomed to
seeing with the WPT. Instead of only showings the final 6 players from an
event draws hundreds of players and goes on for several days, the PPT's
approach will be more like that of the World Series of Poker Main Event
episodes broadcast on ESPN. Camera crews will be present during the entire
tournament to cover the action that leads to the final table, and dealers will
pause action at any table where there is an all-in situation until the cameras
are present. This will allow viewers to see how players make their way through
large fields to make the final table.
Plans call for WPT Enterprises (WPTE) - the parent company of the WPT and PPT
- to bring the PPT to television in early 2006, though the home of the show
hasn't yet been determined. This is mostly because of a lawsuit between the
Travel Channel and WPTE. The Travel Channel, thanks to its contract to air the
World Poker Tour, had the rights of first and last refusal on any future
series that WPTE might create. When the two parties couldn't agree on a deal,
WPTE began developing the series with ESPN. Then, according to WPTE's lawsuit,
the Travel Channel threatened legal action against WPTE and ESPN, actions
which “had and continue to have the effect of disparaging WPTE, interfering
with its pending and anticipated contract and relationship with ESPN and
causing severe and significant damages.” While the lawsuit is still pending in
court, WPTE and ESPN have broken off their deal and the Travel Channel is back
in negotiations with WPTE to air the series.
Only time will tell where the PPT ends up on television, but with its new
approach to covering a tournament in its entirety it's almost sure to be a hit
when it finally debuts. Look for it on a cable channel near you early next
year.
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