Poker Central announced it will shut down its 24/7 television channel on December 31, 2016. The decision was prompted by Poker Central’s plans to veer off in a new direction and comply with its millennial audience’s demands for increased content.
The television channel, which provides 24/7 coverage of poker-related events, was launched in October 2015. Originally, Poker Central offered only a collection of old poker clips but over time, the channel expanded into more Netflix-style original content. The television channel lasted only a year as Cary Katz, the Las Vegas entrepreneur and poker player who funded the venture, announced his decision to close it down.
In addition to television programming on the poker-dedicated channel, Poker Central also offers its content across a number of platforms, including Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Poker Central will continue to provide its content across the said platforms but a live stream from the television channel will no longer be available.
Poker Central’s programming and on-demand videos will still be available to viewers via the applications and will be supported with advertising. Viewers will be able to watch Super High Roller Bowl episodes, Pokerography and other content via the applications or through Poker Central’s website. The company plans on increasing its offerings in the future.
Joe Kakaty, President of Poker Central, described the decision to close down the television channel as a “digital pivot” which would enable the company to focus on providing the new, original content the younger audiences demand. According to Kakaty, Poker Central discovered they were better at providing mobile and social media-focused content than at competing in the cable network field.
In Kakaty’s words television is not going away but the way Poker Central works with television is going to change. Kakaty also confirmed that Poker Central events will still be broadcast on television, only not on the company’s dedicated channel.
Poker Central will generate future content by taking advantage of its partnerships with established networks, such as CBS Sports and NBC Sports. Popular Poker Central programs like Super High Roller and Celebrity Shootout will continue to be broadcast by Poker Central’s network partners.
The latest Poker Central Charity Shootout was broadcast on Amazon.com and Poker Central Twitch Channel on December 3. The event, which raised $85,000 for charities, was then rebroadcast on CBS Sports on December 12 and December 13.
