The USA TODAY Sports Media Group announced yesterday, Nov 12, that they have signed a multi-year content partnership with Global Poker Index [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][GPI], the leading authority on live poker. Set to begin in January 2016, the partnership will see USA TODAY Sports host a dedicated poker-themed portal that features GPI assets, information and many of its initiatives.
Alexandre Dreyfus, Global Poker Index CEO said, “We’re extremely pleased to be announcing this multi-year content partnership with USA TODAY Sports”. Dreyfus went on to add, “The partnership will provide an essential platform to showcase our innovative new events and to promote the players ranked in the Global Poker Index.”
During the press release, Dreyfus was equally excited about the deal, “It’s great to have the support and passion of an industry leader like USA TODAY Sports, whose team shares in our vision to ‘sportify’ poker,” he said, going on to add, “We’re looking forward to working closely with them over the coming years.”
Dreyfus went on to state his belief that the multi-year content partnership with USA TODAY Sports Media will give Global Poker Index a platform on which to showcase their “innovative new events and to promote the players ranked in the Global Poker Index.”Through using nontraditional poker outlets in addition to social media-friendly content, Dreyfus hopes to reach an entirely new, untapped market by “bringing poker to people instead of bringing people to poker”.
Content is expected to appear in both digital and print, and with USA TODAY Sports being the “Official Media Partner of Global Poker League,” the dedicated portal will be focusing on GPI coverage, ranking, players profiles, event results and much more. In addition, the GPI will produce video content for USA TODAY Sports as well its other media partners [Sporting News].
The Global Poker Index is owned by Mediarex Sports and Entertainment, and their goal is to “sportify poker,” which it does through its administration of leagues and competitions as well as its rankings of the world’s top players. Soon to be included is the new Global Poker League which will feature teams that are competing globally live-streamed digitally by several GPI partners, and that includes USA TODAY Sports.
“The Global Poker Index has done more than any other organization to unify poker and to see the possibilities that exist for creating a ‘big league’ atmosphere in play,” observed Jason Ford, Sports Marketing VP at USA TODAY Sports.He added, “We’re looking forward to working together to create a 24/7 digital poker destination, and to provide coverage for some of the groundbreaking events that GPI will be launching.”
USA TODAY Sports has a powerful reach when compared to traditional poker media outlets. The media group accounted for 45 million unique views in July of 2015 alone. This is good enough to rank fifth among multi-platform digital sports providers in the industry. And with the launching of the Global Poker League that’s twined with engaging content on highly visible websites, Global Poker Index CEO Dreyfus believes he can convert sports fans into poker fans.
An anticipated Global Poker League [GPL] which aims to
“increase the entertainment value of poker, with immersive events and engaging consumer content”
is central to the GPI’s initiatives moving into 2016. The 12-team, two-conference professional poker competition that is the Global Poker League will see its inaugural launch for the first season during the first half of 2016. This will culminate in the GPL World Championships which is slated for later that summer. Among the cities expected to host franchises during the GPL eventare Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed but the partnership is expected to go into effect prior to the debut of the Global Poker League.
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