SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 9 California-based GSN placed a $7 million bet that broadcasting the World Poker Tour will pay off, ending the tournament's five-year run on the Travel Channel.The game show cable network will carry 23 two-hour segments at a base cost of about $300,000 each plus bonuses of up to $35,000 per episode based on rating levels, Variety reported Monday. GSN also grabbed an option for two more years of WPT coverage.The move strengthen's GSN's brand and helps position its weekly casino-themed night, Rich Cronin, network president, said."We are thrilled to be able to bring the World Poker Tour to GSN," Cronin said in a news release. "By adding WPT to our existing lineup of compelling gaming entertainment, GSN will be at the head of the poker table." Cronin said GSN's also renewed "High Stakes Poker" for another season. World Poker Tour officials see GSN as a better fit than the Travel Channel, which did not exercise the its option for season No. 6."As we continue to expand the WPT brand and set new limits for poker programming, the move to GSN is the perfect next step for us," said WPT President Steve Lipscomb. Copyright 2007 by UPI
