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The Poker Channel
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The Poker Channel is a dedicated gaming TV network and broadcasts in English to over 15 million cable and satellite homes in 16 European countries.
The Channel is typically carried in the basic packages of cable and satellite operators in Europe and classified as a sport or entertainment channel in electronic programme guides (EPGs). It broadcasts 24 hours a day in all Continental Europe countries and 6.5 hours a day in the UK and Ireland on Sky Channel 166, in the entertainment section, adjacent to FX in the Sky EPG.
The Poker Channel was launched in the UK in March 2005 and broadcasts poker programming including major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, instructional series, online events, documentaries, news and player profiles.
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Encyclopedia
The Poker Channel is a dedicated gaming TV network and broadcasts in English to over 15 million cable and satellite homes in 16 European countries.
The Channel is typically carried in the basic packages of cable and satellite operators in Europe and classified as a sport or entertainment channel in electronic programme guides (EPGs). It broadcasts 24 hours a day in all Continental Europe countries and 6.5 hours a day in the UK and Ireland on Sky Channel 166, in the entertainment section, adjacent to FX in the Sky EPG.
The Poker Channel was launched in the UK in March 2005 and broadcasts poker programming including major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, instructional series, online events, documentaries, news and player profiles. Recently the channel was involved in the production of the PokerHeaven European Cash Game which featured poker cash game players from around Europe, including 2008 WSOP main event winner Peter Eastgate.
History
The Poker Channel was formed in 2005 by Crispin Nieboer, ex Commercial Manager at British Sky Broadcasting, and James Hopkins, Sky Sports’ producer of rugby and poker. Hopkins was involved in the success of the first live poker tournament on television, The Poker Million, in 2000. The Channel recruited Chris White, ex Freemantle executive, as Commercial Director in 2006 to expand the company into European, Asian and Latin American markets.
The channel was first broadcast in the UK on channel number 265. Following an EPG re-structure by Sky in April 2006 the channel was moved to channel number 844 in Sky’s new ‘Gaming and Dating’ section. The move resulted in a loss in viewing figures. In an attempt to regain viewing figures The Poker Channel rebranded itself as All In Sport in August 2006. The rebranding resulted in a move to channel 444 in the Sports section of the Sky EPG,. Due to Sky’s broadcasting rules the channel was only able to broadcast poker programming for 4 – 6 hours a day.
On 31 December 2006 the channel decided to cease broadcasting as a 24 hour channel on Sky due to Sky’s EPG re-structure and limitations on poker programming broadcast hours. On 1 March 2007, to capitalise on the popularity of poker in Europe, The Poker Channel launched as free to air channel on cable platforms in France (Free and Numericable) and Germany (Kabel BW), and in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark on DTH satellite platform, Canal Digital. Later that year, The Poker Channel started a long-term partnership with Sky Channel 166 (Info TV Ltd) to broadcast poker programming in a late evening slot – which continues today, where the Poker Channel broadcasts between 9.30pm and 4am.
In late 2007, The Poker Channel increased distribution in Germany (Kabel Deutschland and Unity Media) and launched with cable platforms in Belgium (BeTV and Coditel), Luxembourg (Coditel), Iceland (Skjarinn), Malta (Melita Cable) and Spain (Imagenio). In 2008, the Channel expanded its footprint further in Finland (Welho, Maxinetti) and launched in the Netherlands, on KPN and in the digital basic package of UPC, adjacent to Eurosport in UPC’s EPG, as well as in Greece (OnTelecom) and on the online TV service, Zattoo, in various European countries including Switzerland.
In 2007, the channel also extended its presence online, setting up content and marketing partnerships with online video sites including Youtube, Vuze, Joost, Zattoo and Blinkx.
In September 2008 The Poker Channel re-launched their web site, PokerChannelEurope.com, in partnership with online video platform Brightcove. The partnership facilitates the delivery of free advertising-supported video content on poker. The Poker Channel recruited Paul Sandells in July 2008, former UK.PokerNews.com editor, as Editor in Chief of the web site.
Programming
The Poker Channel broadcasts a range of poker related programmes acquired from around the world such as the World Series of Poker, the World Series of Poker Europe, the Aussie Millions, The Irish Open, the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, the Great British Poker Tour, Poker Island TV .the World Series of Backgammon, The Million Dollar Cash Game, The Poker Nations Cup, World Poker Crown, The World Heads-up Championship and the World Poker Tour. The Poker Channel has also commissioned or produced poker programmes such as the PokerHeaven.com European Cash Game which featured WSOP 2008 winner Peter Eastgate, the British Poker Open, 12 Steps to Poker Heaven, and the European Poker Masters
The channel currently broadcasts to over 15 million cable and satellite TV homes in 16 countries on the following channels:
In the UK and Ireland on Sky Channel 166 from 9.30pm to 4am
In France on Noos, Numericable, Free (Channels 48, 95 and 145), Orange TV, Zattoo
In Germany on Kabel Deutschland, KBW, Unity Media, NetCologne, NetMartens, Zattoo
In Belgium on BeTV and Coditel (Channel 168)
In Luxembourg on Coditel (Channel 168)
In Netherlands on UPC Digital (Channel 127) and KPN (Channel 316)
In Finland, on Welho (Channel 212), Maxinetti and Canal Digital (Channel 94)
In Norway, Sweden and Denmark on Canal Digital (Channel 94) and Zattoo
In Iceland on Skjarinn
In Spain on Imagenio (Channel 98)
In Malta on MelitaCable (Channel 209)
In Greece on OnTelecom
In Switzerland on Zattoo
External links
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