WPT Traktor Poker screened

11/22/2008

Just 16 months after the Beijing-based arm of WPT Enterprises was created, WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour has hit the Asian television airwaves, becoming the first government sanctioned nationally-televised poker competition in China.

WPT China also recently launched internet and mobile platforms featuring games and community building, inked its first consumer product sponsor and successfully kicked off the second season of the tour.

In July of 2007, the China Leisure Sports Administrative Center (CLSAC) selected WPTE to be the exclusive commercial marketing partner to help build the first national Traktor Poker Tour in China. Together, WPTE and CLSAC have focused on growing and marketing the sport of Traktor Poker - China's most popular poker game - and have created a cross-platform business centered around the WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour.

Earlier this (November) month, the first of nine programming hours from the WPT Traktor Poker Tour Season I Grand Finals aired on Nanjing Entertainment Television in the Jiangsu province - one of the largest and wealthiest Chinese provinces - and will also broadcast across multiple provinces in China. WPT China also recently launched internet and mobile platforms offering games and community features which are being marketed in-show, prompting viewers to play in the mobile and online games on WPT Poker.cn for a chance to win a seat into the Season II Grand Finals.

Player card company, BNM Media, has also signed on as the first sponsor and consumer product partner for the tour.