Gaming Media Group launches Poker Channel France

THE Poker Channel, Europe’s largest gaming TV network, has launched Poker Channel France, a dedicated poker channel for French viewers.

Poker Channel France will offer exclusive French-language poker entertainment to over four million TV subscribers in France from 8 June, with satellite TV expansion to another five million French subscribers by September 2010.

This coincides with the expected introduction of new regulation in France this summer following the French parliament’s vote in favour of an egaming licensing system earlier this month.

Managing director of Poker Channel Europe Chris White said the company is able to “finally give both advertisers and viewers what they’ve been demanding for so long. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote the game to an even larger audience, from beginners to pros”.

The Poker Channel, which is owned by Pokerheaven and InTouch Gaming-owner Gaming Media Group, a new entrant to the Power 50 in 2009, said that it is in developed discussions with several leading online gaming operators about a long-term exclusive marketing partnership to begin in June.

Gaming Media Group appointed corporate finance boutique Cavendish this month, and is said to be in the process of being sold.

Poker Channel France will be available at launch to subscribers of Numericable; Freebox, the TV service from French telecoms group Iliad which also operates the internet service provider Free, which has a deal with Chili Gaming); SFR’s Neufbox, following a distribution deal with The Poker Channel in October 2009; and Bbox, part of the Bouygues conglomerate which owns the Eurosport TV channel and SPS Betting, the egaming firm operating Eurosportsbet.

The Channel is also adding three new territories to its pan-European feed, including Latvia (from today), Austria (5 May), and Monaco (8 June), taking it to a total of 28 countries and 22 million TV homes.