Sky Poker TV set for major overhaul
Poker TV channel and online stream to close as focus switches to pre-recorded material
Sky Betting and Gaming’s Sky Poker TV is to undergo a complete overhaul following the Leeds-based operator’s sale to CVC Capital Partners which has made running the TV channel both “commercially and legally” unviable.
Sky Poker TV’s 24/7 channel and online live stream will shut down within the next couple of weeks but the operator said the division would continue to operate under a new model.
Sky Betting and Gaming will focus on developing pre-recorded material for Sky Poker TV including coverage of its UKPC tournament, interviews and educational videos, while its weekly shows on Sky Sports will remain under a new format, the company said.
The decision for the imminent changes was made after British broadcasting giant Sky sold an 80% stake in Sky Betting and Gaming to private equity and investment firm CVC Capital Partners for a total of £720m.
Sky will retain a 20% stake in the operator and maintain representation on the board but in a forum post yesterday, Sky Poker said its move towards a more independent company had impacted the future of the channel.
Last year eGR revealed that Sky Poker had begun discussions on developing a B2B model following a 24% year-on-year rise in revenues from the vertical.
The announcement came after the Sky Betting and Gaming launched a revamped version of its poker product last year, which utilised new software and featured redesigned and resizable tables.