Well guess it's official now.
Here is the official press release.
Dish NetworkTM and Bell Express Vu Go All-In for PixelPlay's ITV World Poker Tour(R) Game
NEW YORK, January 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PixelPlay, the leading
provider of interactive entertainment services and technology for emerging
platforms around the world, announced today that the World Poker Tour(R)
(WPT) Interactive TV Edition is now available on multiple television
operators throughout North America.
This new WPT ITV game will be offered on PixelPlay's DishGAMES
subscription service on DISH NetworkTM in the United States and as a Play
Per Day game on Bell Express Vu in Canada.
The WPT Interactive TV Edition game allows players to challenge virtual
poker pros like David Williams, Antonio Esfandiari, Michael Mizrachi, and
Evelyn Ng -- all seasoned players who regularly appear on the WPT, which
airs on the Travel Channel. The WPT ITV game also includes an interactive
tutorial and leader boards which will post chip leaders on a weekly and
cumulative basis.
"PixelPlay's goal of bringing the best gaming brands to our Interactive
Television services makes working with the WPT a natural fit," said Ron
Chaimowitz, CEO of PixelPlay. "By partnering with the WPT brand, we are
creating anchor games for our DishGAMES service on Dish Network and our
Play Per Day offering on Bell Express Vu. PixelPlay plans to utilize its
worldwide exclusive ITV license with the WPT on operators around the
world."
"We are delighted that the WPT will be available on Interactive
Television platforms so our passionate poker fans can experience the game
in their living rooms within a television environment," said Andrea Green,
VP of Global Consumer Products, WPT Enterprises, Inc. (WPTE). "This
continues the World Poker Tour's successful track record of providing our
poker fans with new and innovative ways to enjoy poker."
The licensing relationship between PixelPlay and WPT is managed by
Brandgenuity LLC, WPT's strategic product licensing and merchandising
agency of record. According to Louis Drogin, the agency's Managing
Director, "Interactive TV is the new frontier and the perfect platform to
extend the WPT experience into homes around the world".
In addition to WPTE, PixelPlay has established licensing agreements
with many of the world's leading brands ranging from notable family
entertainment to classic arcade games, with the goal of providing unmatched
content to the burgeoning casual game and "edutainment" markets on the
interactive television platforms.
About PixelPlay
PixelPlay (
http://www.pixelplay.com) is the leading provider of
interactive entertainment services and technology for emerging platforms
including ITV, IPTV, the "broadband internet" and mobile devices worldwide.
The Company creates and distributes games featuring many top brands
including Centipede(TM), Missile Command(R), Asteroids(TM), Monopoly(R),
Scrabble(R), Boggle(R), Yahtzee(TM), and popular children's brands such as
Little Bear(R) and Reader Rabbit(R). These notable brands combined with
PixelPlay's JIVE(TM) Technology which enables consumers to experience
cross-platform, multi-player interaction, allow the company to provide
highly profitable entertainment services to MSOs and wireless carriers.
Contact:
Jonathan Boltax
Vice President Programming and Service Management
+1-212-989-4580
About DishGAMES
DishGAMES is the premiere games service on DISH Network featuring 16
hit games, leaderboards, prizing and tournaments. DishGAMES is created and
managed by PixelPlay. It features many of PixelPlay's top licensed games
content from Atari, Hasbro, Real Networks, MumboJumbo and others. DishGAMES
is available for $4.99 a month and more information can be found at
http://www.dishgames.com. For more information contact Jonathan Boltax at
+1-212-989-4580.
About EchoStar Communications Corporation
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) serves more than 13
million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the
fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000. DISH Network's
services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV,
HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional
installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar has been a leader for
more than 25 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide.
EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500
company. Visit EchoStar's Web site at
http://www.echostar.com or call
1-800-333-DISH (3474).
About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the
creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products
driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised
programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker
Tour(R), a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker
tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more
than 150 markets globally. With the WPT in its fifth season, WPTE has
launched a second series on the Travel Channel, the Professional Poker
Tour(TM), which focuses on the play of poker's leading stars. WPTE also
operates a real-money online gaming website,
http://www.wptonline.com, which
prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted
jurisdictions. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the
business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing,
electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino
games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate
sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and
other WPT news, fans may log on to
http://www.worldpokertour.com. WPTE is a
majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO).
Photos and media information can be found online at:
http://www.worldpokertour.com/media
About Brandgenuity LLC
Brandgenuity LLC, an independent trademark licensing agency based in
New York, provides turnkey licensing services to owners of famous
trademarks. The agency's four principals, Jay Asher, Adina Avery-Grossman,
Louis Drogin and Andrew Topkins, have more than 50 years of combined
licensing and marketing experience. Brandgenuity agency services include
strategic licensing planning, prospecting, negotiation, licensee management
and program administration. Brandgenuity represents the following brands:
LeapFrog(R), Food Network, Snapple(R), Yoo-hoo(R), Mott's(R), World Poker
Tour(R), French's Mustard(R), Frank's RedHot(R) and Verizon, among others.
