Heartland Poker Tour and BLUFF have strengthened ties in a deal that creates a ‘wide ranging media partnership’ and adds extra competition into the market.
Competition is important.
It’s what spurs us on to bigger things.
So the news that The Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) have chosen BLUFF to be their media partner is good news for an economy where a vital few were threatening to take over.
The product that PokerNews creates is second to none. I know because I have worked for them. But it was great news, a few years back, when PokerListings won the contract to provide coverage for the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).
How did PokerNews react?
They got even better.
It’s not only the media outlets that have healthy competition. It seems our ranking systems are also getting down and dirty. The Global Poker Index (GPI) is widely recognized as the number one poker ranking system in the world, but this hasn’t sent the BLUFF ranking system to the grave.
Quite the reverse.
Whilst the GPI has been adding more and more card rooms, and poker organizations, to its roster, The Heartland Poker Tour have decided they prefer a little bit of BLUFF.
The two have shaken hands on what is being called a ‘wide ranging media partnership,’ and it will see BLUFF taking on roles that could well have fallen into the hands of PokerNews and the GPI.
BLUFF.com and BLUFF magazine will get up close and personal with HPT coverage, including profiles of their most prominent players, and they will also provide live update reporting, and showing of the live stream of the final table at BLUFF.com.
“Working with the Heartland Poker Tour gives BLUFF a great opportunity to put ourselves in front of a very passionate set of poker players,” said Lance Bradley, BLUFF VP of Content. “HPT has worked diligently over the past couple of years to expand its presence both in casinos and on television while strengthening its brand among their dedicated player base.”
As I alluded to earlier, the partnership means the BLUFF player of the year ranking system will determine the winner of the HPT Player of the Year (POY) race, and the current leader is Aaron Massey.
“BLUFF’s ability to reach poker enthusiasts online, in print, through its mobile app, and via social media allows us to celebrate the accomplishments of HPT players with an even broader audience,” said Jen Mastrud, HPT Director of Operations. “Our players, fans, and casino partners all stand to gain from this relationship.”
The HPT broadcasts its final table to an audience of over 110 million households.
