Poker Night in America will make its long-awaited broadcast debut this Sunday, June 29 on the CBS Sports Network at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The show that has promised to revolutionize poker programming by providing a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of players as well as exciting action on the felt recently announced a deal with CBS. The agreement calls for 26 consecutive Sunday night broadcasts that will run through the end of 2014.
That will put Poker Night in America action in more than 99 million living rooms throughout the country, allowing players in the U.S. to become more familiar with their favorite poker pros. The cast of characters includes Gavin Smith, Shaun Deeb, Matt Glantz, Layne Flack, Mike “the Mouth” Matusow, and many others.
The show has been filming since last year and has made tour stops in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Nevada. Another trip to the Maryland Live! Casino is set for next month. A casting call for new players with large bankrolls has been announced for that July 26-29 tour stop, with engaging and colorful personalities preferred.
With a goal of making poker fun again,
Poker Night in America promises new and fresh
broadcasts that will soon become must-see television for all serious players and fans,
said PNIA creator Todd Anderson. Along with a spotlight on well-known pros that poker fans will certainly recognize upon tuning in, viewers will also see the play of amateurs who have made their way through tough tournament fields to land at final tables of exciting events.
Anderson envisions the entertainment to be new and different each and every week with a supporting cast that is always changing. According to the Poker Night in America website, fans will likely know which of their favorite stars will be featured on upcoming broadcasts via announcements made prior to airing.
While the show has filmed final tables at each of its tour stops thus far, the cameras were also turned on for cash game action that required player bankrolls in the ballpark of $20,000. Poker Night in America is always on the lookout for new players to partake in the high-stakes ring game action and those who would like to be a part of the programming are invited to apply at the website.
The idea behind Poker Night in America was first announced about a year ago and takes a page from the popular programming theme of Baseball Night in America and Football Night in America broadcasts. While the game of poker has not yet been embraced as heartily as those sports, it certainly does have a loyal following that increased greatly after the poker boom of 2003.
