Chicago, Illinois. (May 4, 2006) --- The International Pool Tour, the richest professional pool tour in the world, has secured a major television package to air IPT's action-packed “King of the Hill 8-Ball Shootout” series on OLN. The network will carry the six IPT shows in prime time, with the first show set to premiere at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 4.
The International Pool Tour's “King of the Hill 8-Ball Shootout” features the world's greatest players competing for more than $1 million in prize money, by far the biggest purse ever offered in pool. The series will be shown on OLN over six consecutive Sundays, culminating in a two-hour finale on Sunday, July 9. Click here for IPT TV schedule.
The Comcast-owned OLN is currently available in almost 70 million households and is considered one of the hottest sports cable networks in America. The national network is best-known for its coverage of the National Hockey League, the prestigious Tour De France, America's Cup, Davis Cup tennis, the A1 Grand Prix series and the “Survivor” reality series in syndication.
“We believe the IPT's intense competition, production value and sports drama make it a good fit for our schedule” said Victoria Quoss, OLN's VP of Programming, International & Strategic Planning. “Millions of people play 8-Ball all over the country and the International Pool Tour will take the sport to a whole new level. The series will not only appeal to pool fans, but to sports fans in general.”
The International Pool Tour series is a breakthrough in televised pool. It is one of the first-ever pool series to air nationally in prime-time and is widely considered to have the most high-end production value in the sport's history. The “IPT King of the Hill 8-Ball Shootout” was produced by the International Pool Tour in association with A. Smith & Company, the executive producers of network hits such as “Hell's Kitchen,” “Skating with the Stars” and many major television sports events including pro football.
“OLN is known for its coverage of some of the most prestigious and competitive international events in sports,” said Jon Denny, Executive Director of the IPT. “This new partnership signifies that pool is now a major television sport and that the International Pool Tour is a ready for prime time property.”
OLN (OLNTV.com) is the leader in competitive and adrenaline-charged content. Now in more than 69 million homes, OLN is the cable home of the National Hockey League and best-in-class events like The Tour de France, The America's Cup, Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the Boston Marathon and USSA Skiing. The network offers unique programming in four primary areas: Action Sports, Field Sports, Bulls & Rodeo and Awe-Inspiring Series, and is the exclusive home of “Survivor” in syndication. OLN, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ; CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
For more information on the International Pool Tour, visit www.internationalpooltour.com.
