More UPC Spin

UPC PRESS RELEASE:

February 12, 2007

False claims of the Demise of the Ultimate Poker Challenge are unfounded and untrue!

You may have read recent online articles claiming that the Ultimate Poker Challenge is dead, ‘a victim of Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement’, but don’t you believe it!

The Ultimate Poker Challenge continues to air at its usual dates and times. UPC: Cash Poker, has already been accepted as an exciting new poker show; an alternative to regular tournament programming. Absolutely nothing has changed!

Well absolutely nothing might be a bit of an exaggeration since the UPC weekend events at Binion's have been canceled.

So what happened? How did this rumor get started? Rita Hawn, Production Manager for UPC has a theory, “This is all pure conjecture based on a handwritten sign hanging at Binion’s stating that the UPC weekly tournaments have been temporarily canceled. The reason we canceled them is that we have 28 episodes sitting in our production office waiting to be edited and televised. We have, right now, enough UPC episodes to last 14 weeks.”

Sorry folks no handwritten signs existed and as far as sources at Binion's are concerned there is nothing "temporary" about the UPC cancellations. And again I ask, was it not possibly to make the calculation that three events each weekend for 52 weeks would mean 156 final table tapings? This is not exactly rocket science. But at least we now have an admission (and a contradiction) when UPC says: "the reason we canceled them is..." So you did cancel the UPC events but nothing has changed???

Hawn continues, “Our advertisers are in place for the near future and we have no plans to cancel our show.”

Does this mean Absolute Poker will be continuing as a UPC sponsor and the statements that they have pulled their advertising are false?

This past January, UPC began airing its new television series UPC Cash Poker. In regards to this show Hawn states, “Cash Poker tapes every three weeks at Binion’s. We have absolutely no plans whatsoever of halting production of Cash Poker!” On top of this, UPC is planning their 2007 Championship Series Week at Binion’s in Las Vegas. “We are very excited about our upcoming Championship Week, especially the $10,000 tournament. We are planning on televising each day of the main event. In this regard, as in Cash Poker, nothing has changed.”

The article was clear that Cash Poker had not been effected by the UPC changes but now it seems the Championship Week has been. In previously announced schedules more events then just the main event were on the taping schedule. But nothing has changed???

So what’s all this talk about UPC Resting in Peace? Hawn is as confused as anyone, “No one called me or anyone else in our production office in regards to this article. We have no idea where they got their information. We have made several attempts to contact the publication but they do not seem to have telephones. We understand that this article was not written maliciously, but it could hurt us none the less. We want our television stations, our advertisers and our players to know that UPC isn’t going anywhere! If you want proof, just tune into our show! We’ll be there as usual!

Yes and I can tune in to Mayberry RFD too but that doesn't mean they are still taping new episodes, which is precisely what my article was about. So spin away UPC but don't think the press releases will stand as fact or even convenient fiction.

Once again, if you would like to comment on any articles or posts you have my phone numbers. I returned all of your calls but then again, I wouldn't want to speak to media either now that your spin is in print, handwritten or otherwise.