ESPN to broadcast PokerStars NAPT

ESPN will broadcast 16 hours of the PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour (NAPT) starting in April, according to a statement made by the network.

The second leg of the series, which will be played at the Venetian in Las Vegas from February 20-24, will kick off ESPN2's taped coverage on April 19.

The first leg of the tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, was conducted in January and is slated to be televised in May. The NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event will be held at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut from April 7-11, and ESPN will be broadcasting that event in May as well.

PokerStars has not released the rest of the NAPT schedule.

"Having the North American Poker Tour on ESPN2 is going to take poker on this continent to a different level," said Daniel Negreanu in an ESPN.com report on the TV deal.

ESPN's coverage will be hosted by model and actress Joanna Krupa.

ESPN's broadcast schedule can be found below:

April 19: Venetian $25,000 high-roller bounty shootout (9-11 p.m. ET)
April 26: Venetian $25,000 high-roller bounty shootout (9 p.m. ET)
April 26: Venetian $5,000 main event (10 p.m. ET)
May 3: Mohegan Sun shootout (9-11 p.m. ET)
May 10: Mohegan Sun shootout (9 p.m. ET)
May 10: Mohegan Sun $5,000 main event (10 p.m. ET)
May 17: PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 high-roller (9-11 p.m. ET)