SIXTH SEASON OF GSN’S “HIGH STAKES POKER™” SHOWS WINNING HAND IN KEY DEMOS

 
 
With an Outstanding Player Line-Up and New Look and Feel, Ratings For HSP6 Are Up Dramatically Over Prior Season Among All Key Demographics
 
 
SANTA MONICA, CA—March 25, 2010 – GSN announced today that ratings are up dramatically for the sixth season of its signature poker series, HIGH STAKES POKER™.  As compared to the first six episodes of the prior season, the first six installments of HSP6 have improved ratings among all key demographics. Featuring a line-up of renowned poker champions, cash game specialists and promising up-and-comers—along with a brand-new look and feel—HSP6 has generated substantial increases in its key audience demos:
 
Adults 18-49: up +27%
 
Adults 25-54: up +25%
  
Men 25-54: up +29%
 
“We’re very gratified to see this season of HIGH STAKES POKER performing so well among these important demographic groups, and we can attribute it to an especially strong player line-up this season,” says David Schiff, GSN’s Vice President of Programming & Development. “We have some of the biggest names in poker this season, including more international players, and the viewers are clearly responding to the outstanding game play.”
 
The players themselves are bullish on HSP6:
 
"HSP has evolved a great deal from Season 1, and in Season 6 the level of play has reached new heights.  Not only are the players in the game improving, but I imagine the viewers who get a glimpse into some of these great poker minds are also learning a lot about the game," said Daniel Negreanu.
“It’s an honor to be one of less than a handful of players to have never missed a season of HIGH STAKES POKER,” says Antonio Esfandiari, who has appeared in each season of the series. “HIGH STAKES POKER is, hands-down, the number-one show that poker players want to be a part of. Anyone who’s a poker player wants to be on the show, but only a select few get lucky enough to be chosen.”
 
Featuring a minimum cash buy-in of $200,000, HIGH STAKES POKER is the premiere cash game on television. The sixth season showcases some of the world’s top professional and amateur players, including:
 

• Patrik Antonius
• David Benyamine  
• Doyle Brunson
• Tom Dwan
• Eli Elezra
• Antonio Esfandiari
• Barry Greenstein    
• Phil Hellmuth
• Andreas Hoivold  
• Phil Ivey
• Mike Matusow
• Daniel Negreanu  
• Dennis Phillips
• Lex Veldhuis

 
Acclaimed poker player, TV personality and journalist Kara Scott joined Gabe Kaplan as co-host of HIGH STAKES POKER for the series’ sixth season. Scott reports from the HSP suite, interviewing players about strategy, big hands and table dynamics. Kaplan, whose knowledge of poker and ability to explain the nuances of the game have made him a viewer favorite, has returned for his sixth season as the analyst on HIGH STAKES POKER.  HIGH STAKES POKER airs Sunday nights at 8:00 PM (ET/PT), with an encore at 11:00 PM (ET/PT), only on GSN.
 
HSP can also be seen in territories around the world, including South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
 
 
ABOUT GSN
GSN is a multimedia entertainment company that offers original and classic game programming via its 72-million subscriber television network and online game sites.  GSN’s cross-platform content gives viewers and participants the opportunity to win cash and prizes, whether through GSN’s popular TV game shows, gsn.com’s free casual games or its WorldWinner competitive cash tournaments.  GSN is distributed throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos.  GSN and its subsidiary, WorldWinner.com, Inc., are owned by DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Entertainment.  For further information, visit GSN’s press website at corp.gsn.com.

 

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