CBS backs out of airing poker tourney

[2Tone]

From a marketing newsletter I get ...

Poker: Coming to CBS or Not?
Poker has enjoyed a successful run on a handful of cable networks for several years. And back in July, CBS said it would become the first broadcast network to step up. (See "Why Poker Is a Safe Bet for Marketers.")

The network announced that beginning on Christmas, CBS Sports will televise eight ProJo Poker tourneys. But the 3-5 p.m. time slot announced by the network and the online gaming partner is filled with other viewing options, depending on the market you're in. Neither CBS nor ProJo Poker returned calls to CHIEF MARKETER.

There may be a good reason for CBS to back out: Television ratings for poker broadcasts in the United States have generally declined in 2005 compared to 2004, according to "Poker News." And the online publication doesn't list the CBS-ProJo Poker marriage in its 2006 television preview.