World Poker Tour Enterprises has sued the Travel Channel in a California court for interfering with it's contractual right to air it's new Professional Poker Tour program on a non disclosed third party network (most likely ESPN).
WPT Enterprises has produced three seasons of the World Poker Tour for the Travel Channel, and is currently working on Season IV. Steve Lipscomb, CEO of WPT Enterprises, commented: "We have forged a strong relationship with the Travel Channel over the last three years and are in the middle of producing Season IV of the World Poker Tour, the most successful show in the history of the Travel Channel."
According to a contract signed by the Travel Channel and WPT Enterprises, the Travel Channel has the first right to license any poker-related TV show produced by WPT Enterprises, subject to successfully closing negotiations between both parties during a 60 day period. If a deal is not closed in this period WPT Enterprises is allowed to talk to other parties. Finally, the Travel Channel has the last right to match a deal reached between WPT Enterprises and a third party network during a 15 day period.
Apparently WPT Enterprises made a preliminary deal with ESPN concerning the broadcast of it's new Professional Poker Tour program. After submitting the offer to the Travel Channel (so the Travel Channel could exercise it's last right to match the deal), both WPT Enterprises and ESPN received a letter from the Travel Channel in which it claimed WPT Enterprises had no authority to sign such a deal and threatening legal action.
In reaction to the letters WPT Enterprises has sued the Travel Channel in a California court for alleged breach of contract and interfering with it's business. The Travel Channel 15 day right to match expires September, 27th. WPT Enterprises intends to sign a deal with ESPN for the broadcast of the Professional Poker Tour if the Travel Channel does not exercise it's right to match.