Bad, bad Poker TV Show news for us English

[HalfSugar]

I emailed Presentable Television who make Late Night Poker and just got this reply:

"Hi Andy

Many thanks for your recent enquiry. Unfortunately Ch4 decided not to commission any more series of Late Night Poker. You can catch repeats on Discovery Home & Leisure.

If you're looking for an all new poker fix and have digital television then tune onto Challenge TV on Thursday 16th October. A new 9 part series called Celebrity Poker Club will start then. With a line up including Stephen Hendry, Rory McGrath, Martin Amis, Mark Williams and Tom Parker Bowles, it promises to be a lot of fun

Cayt Smithson
Producer, Celebrity Poker Club"

I replied saying I was upset, for all the good it will do, but I think this is a massive shame, especially as it has grown in popularity so much since it was first shown.

I'm not fussed to see a celebrity hybrid myself, I'd rather watch the pros

[ballbp]

I understand how you feel. Over here, all we get that I know of is Tuesday night reruns of the WSOP, Wednesday night WPT, and then they run the same one from Wednesday on Saturday. Oh well, I guess it's something but with the popularity of the game rising so fast they need to keep up.

[HalfSugar]

When I emailed her back I told her that she was copping out by making a celebrity one! Thing is, in the UK on terrestial TV (eg no satellite/cable etc) we have just 5 channels. 1 and 3 are reknowned as the popular channels, 5 is fairly new and a bit crappy and 2 and 4 are the ones that show slightly less popular and more unusual programs.

Channel 4 which shows Late Night Poker had a real hit on their hands even with it in the Friday night post pub piss-up time slot yet they have cancelled it?! I don't know if any Americans have heard of LNP but it's been getting increasingly impressive coverage in the media in recent years and has catapulted poker into the lives of a lot of British people which can only be a good thing!

I wished the woman luck with her new show but I also told her that I hope it bombs really so that they re-commission LNP.....only time will tell I guess. We don't get the WSOP at all over here, the only coverage I have ever seen is of the one which Scotty Nguyen won a while ago cos my mate had a dodgy VHS copy. My one favourite TV show which is a bit different from the norm and they go and cancel it

[John MacEnroe]

I know what you mean Genocidal - I saw the celebrity special a few years back and it was poor. Al alvarez and Stephen Fry were playing but its clearly not the same thing. The snooker players are a laugh to watch though.

I only hope British TV gets a WSOP franchise soon - that would make up for the loss

[ballbp]

I'm sorry your only poker telecast has been canceled for whatever the hell they deem better. I look forward to my two nights a week like it's a religion. There's nothing like watching those guys (and sometimes a gal) go at it no limit. When you see their hole cards it's even better. You see who's drawing, who's bluffing, and who's slow playing those aces. If I knew where to send them, I'd tape them all and send them to you but oh well. Like you said, three years and you'll be here. Unless some woman gets her claws into you. Talk to you later.

[money talks]

Bring it back it was great entertainment

www.pokerresults.com

[DDiehr]

Are you telling me that the UK has only 5 channels??????? That's f*ucking insane! I have over 150 channels and I still get pissed at the lack of programming. You guys do have indoor plumbing right? It seems clear that your only solution is a full out revolution.

As far as getting your poker fix, here in the U.S. they've released a DVD box set of the WPT first season. The problem is it's something like $180, and if you have to get an import you're gonna be paying a whole lot to watch poker.

[HalfSugar]

It's really only 4 channels for most people as Channel 5 has so few decent transmitters that a lot of people (including me) can't get it. It's ok, I don't really watch TV, I have over 300 DVD movies and TV shows with over 1,000hrs of stuff still to watch so I'm ok