12 Jul
Poker fans have long lamented that “Poker After Dark” was cut from TV programming following Black Friday in 2011, but those fans can rejoice once again following an announcement that the poker show will make a triumphant return after a six year hiatus.
The launch of the rebooted Poker After Dark is set for August 7 and will be available on PokerGO, a new app produced by Poker Central. The programming will be aired live to viewers, which is a different format than the taped show that ran from 2007-2011 and included more than 300 episodes.
“PokerGO’s vast content library will now include the return of one of the most beloved poker shows in the world as we continue our commitment to delivering premium live content,” said Poker Central president Joe Kakaty.
Top Pros
Viewers of the old Poker After Dark tuned in at 2:00 a.m. on NBC to watch the biggest names in poker compete in high stakes action that included cash games and single table freezeouts. The likes of Doyle Brunson, Patrik Antonius, Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, Gus Hansen, Daniel Negreanu, Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey became regulars on the show, attracting a bunch of new fans to the game of poker.
Narrating duties were handled by Ali Nejad, who has been recruited to reprise the same role that he excelled in previously. Sitting alongside Nejad and adding color commentary will be poker professional Nick Schulman, winner of more than $8 million in his career on the live tournament circuit including a 3rd place finish in $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw at this summer’s WSOP for $98,337.
Nejad and Schulman will be behind microphones at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, which is set to be the venue for the reformatted Poker After Dark broadcasts that are scheduled to run year round. Viewers will enjoy cash games and Sit & Go action of Hold’em, Omaha, and various mixed games, with Daniel Negreanu and Antonio Esfandiari among the players set to compete on the first live airing.
New Format, Same Spirit
“Poker After Dark achieved some of the most breathtaking moments in poker by bringing the fans into an intimate setting up close and personal with the players,” said Poker PROductions founder Mori Eskandani, who produced the previous broadcasts and will assume those same duties.
“We look forward to bringing back the same spirit of the show that made it such a hit in the past.”
Poker fans who don’t want to miss any of the new Poker After Dark episodes can purchase a PokerGO subscription for $10 per month or obtain a discount with a full-year commitment of $99. The old show was must-see TV for poker lovers and it’s a good bet that the new incarnation will follow that same path.
For your viewing pleasure, take a look at a Season 1 Poker After Dark broadcast that included Matusow, Brunson, Negreanu, and Gabe Kaplan.
