North American Poker Tour and ESPN2 reach deal to televise 16 hours of poker tournaments

North American Poker Tour, ESPN2 reach TV deal

LAS VEGAS — The newly formed North American Poker Tour says it has reached an agreement with cable network ESPN2 to air 16 one-hour episodes of its tournaments.

The tour, owned by poker event consultant Global Poker Tours Ltd., begins a six-day series of tournaments at the Venetian casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Saturday.

The Venetian tour stop features a $5,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold ‘em main event, and a $25,000 buy-in shootout tournament.

Global Poker Tours Managing Director Jeffrey Haas says the tour intends to hold five or six events in its first season.

The PokerStars.net Caribbean Adventure was held in January in the Bahamas and an April event is planned in Connecticut.

Poker Web site PokerStars.net is the tour’s sponsor.