New TV game

As poker continues to take over the TV airwaves, news of new product reaches us.

Two Way TV, creator of interactive games and solutions for TV audiences has turned it’s hand to poker, and the result is Texas Hold ‘em Challenge a cleverly animated two hour play-along TV poker show.

The show will air for four hours daily on PokerZone (Sky channel 843) and features fantastic graphics, bright colours and the opportunity to play through your mobile phone.

Texas Hold ‘Em Challenge is played live with a poker expert commentating on the action as it unfolds. Viewers play-along on their mobile phone against a table of 3D virtual players controlled by sophisticated artificial intelligence.

At every round players at home can use their mobile phones to ‘check’, ‘call’ or ‘raise’ the play against the virtual players.

Interaction is via SMS and home players play with virtual chips. Players ‘sit’ at the table at which point the players cards are ‘dealt’ to their mobile phone. The action unfolds on screen with the home player ‘playing’ at the table so they feel as if they are actually there in the flesh.

At the end of each game the home player with the highest winnings scoops a cash prize. Texas Hold ‘em Challenge also has the facility to televise poker sponsors’ online web feeds through online tables. These allow TV viewers to play against live online players, creating a unique customer acquisition tool for the sponsors.

Jean de Fougerolles, Two Way TV’s chief executive officer, added: “Poker players at all levels will enjoy this great TV show which allows you to actively take part. This is what participation TV is all about and is absolutely unique in this market.”

Jim Sibcy, managing director of PokerZone TV, commented: “Texas Hold ‘em Challenge is a unique show, offering everyone at home the chance of playing along for prize money in a safe and entertaining environment. This is a world first and we think it will prove to be very popular on our channel”.