PokerStars has kicked off the first season of their New Zealand television show, aptly named “The Poker Star.” Running each Friday after Channel 4′s evening movie (around 20:30 local time), this program will feature 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem.

Players and fans in the nation of New Zealand have a special incentive to watch, as PokerStars will be giving out a special password each week. These special codes can be used to open the doors to an exclusive $1,000 freeroll, kicking off at 23:30 on the evenings when the show airs. There are no enrollment requirements, which means that no matter how many or how few players enter, the top 20% of the finishers will receive a chunk of the $1,000 prize pool.

As for the Poker Star television program itself, players will find quite a bit to draw their attention. Hachem will serve as a mentor to a group of the top young poker players in the nation, all of whom will be living together under one roof for the duration of the season. One contestant will be eliminated each week until the final winner is eventually crowned.