British based Pokerzone came up with an original way to get widespread mainstream media publicity for televised poker with “Media 25 Hundred” last month (June)
The gambling channel put together a tournament for top journalists in the British print media and achieved major coverage- so much so that plans are in train to extend the concept.
After a gruelling 4 hours at the table, Ben Beasley-Murray, freelance journalist for The Times, took home GBP 2,500 in prize money and the bragging rights as the best poker player in print, from the Pokerzone ‘Media 25 Hundred’.
Lee McCreery, of News of the World, and Simon Young, of The Sun, gave Ben a run for his money but were overcome by Ben’s poker prowess, and ‘cunning strategy,’ and finished in second and third places respectively.
‘Media 25 Hundred’ was filmed at the Pokerzone studios in London and was aired at 7:00pm GMT, July 1 on Sky Channel 226.
Other journalists in the media poker tournament were FHM’s Mike Peake, Lads Mag’s Mark Tate, David Flusfeder, a freelance journalist for the Financial Times, Oliver Irish, editor of Stuff, Nils Pratley from The Guardian, and poker veteran and journalist Matt Born.
Jim Sibcy, Pokerzone m.d. said, “The journalists all possessed sharp poker skills, and there could be some budding professional poker players amongst here! Their strategic play made for an impressive game and I am sure they will be very interested to watch the end result on Pokerzone.”
The media poker tournament was such a hit with the print journalists that plans are in the pipeline for another one for the broadcast media. Pokerzone is now looking for broadcasters with a poker passion.
“We are planning a second ‘Media 25 Hundred’ as we would like to give the radio and television media the chance to test their card skills,” said Sibcy. “We might then hold a ‘Best of the Best’ tournament with the top print and broadcast media competing for a bigger cash prize!”
Officially launched on May 18, Pokerzone offers a selection of modern and exciting poker and casino lifestyle entertainment to more than 8 million digital TV homes and global broadband subscribers.