Suited: WPT Takes Travel Channel To Court Over New Series

WPT Enterprises filed a lawsuit Monday in L.A. Superior Court against the Travel Channel, which airs the “World Poker Tour,” and parent company Discovery Communications “for allegedly interfering with plans to develop a new poker series on ESPN,” according to Jesse Hiestand of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The lawsuit claims that the WPT had the right to “develop other poker-related programming, provided they gave the Travel Channel the first opportunity to license the show and the last right to refusal.” Discovery and the Travel Channel “allegedly sent threatening letters to WPT and ESPN,” one of which threatened ESPN “with legal action because the Travel Channel said it already had licensed” the WPT-developed “Professional Poker Tour,” something the WPT denies. WPT is seeking undisclosed damages and court costs, including a “declaration that WPT upheld its side of the contract, while the defendants breached their obligations” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/21).