WSOP 09 TV Coverage

[lwestatbus]

I just visited the ESPN WSOP page (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/wsop) and it seems that the TV coverage this year has been reduced drastically from previous years. As nearly as I can tell the only scheduled TV coverage will be three special tournys (Anniversary, Africa benefit, and Champion's Cup) and then the ME.

Last year there was extensive coverage of the circuit events as well as several other Vegas events in the lead up to the ME. I don't see these listed in the schedule anywhere.

Also, in the ME coverage it lists it in three sections:

1. Episodes 7-22
2. Episodes 23-30
3. Final table

What happened to Episodes 1-6?

Does anyone have any additional information on the TV schedule? Is my read on the reduced coverage correct?

(It actually seems like "Episodes 23-30" is the same number of episodes shown for the ME last year. Could Episodes 7-22 be the circuit events and non-ME events?)

[HalfSugar]

Last year's coverage was awful, I hope they do better this time! They drag the main event out something chronic and don't give enough time to other games.

I want to see all the $10K buy-in events (esp the mixed game), the biggest cheap event (so the $1K I guess), the HORSE event and the $40K event at least. I imagine though that I will be left disappointed.

[golddog]

From some podcast I listen to (2+2 I think), it sounded as if there wouldn't necessarily be less coverage, but fewer events would be televised.

I think they said something like two hours of each of the ME's day 1s, and deeper coverage of ME, but pretty much what lwestabus said--very few tournaments being covered.

I think they also said no coverage of the $50K horse.

Aren't people getting tired of watching nothing but NLHE?

On a side note, one of the ESPN channels had 2003 ME coverage on this weekend. I'd forgotten there was a time when, at the top of the telecast, Lon had to go over the basics of the game (everybody starts with two cards, and there's a round of betting....)

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

There will be a lot more coverage on Bluff.com and ESPN360.com. So like most everything else, there will be more available on the net than crappy TV.

I'm beyond caring in the slightest about televised tournaments anymore. Cash games or nothing IMO.

[HalfSugar]

I think they also said no coverage of the $50K horse.

Great. I can see the ESPN execs sat around going "I've only heard of no limit holdem, let's just broadcast that". I despair.

[golddog]

I think they also said no coverage of the $50K horse.

Great. I can see the ESPN execs sat around going "I've only heard of no limit holdem, let's just broadcast that". I despair.

Exec #2: Let's make sure to not show any strategically important hands as well. Let's make it out to be an all-in fest.

Sigh.

[HalfSugar]

Particularly heads up. 90% of the poker watching world will think that last year's ME HU lasted about 15 minutes

Similarly, anyone who saw the conclusion of Event 2 which Grant Hinkle won with T4 AIPF vs AK will think he's a horrible donk. The truth is that during HU, his opponent had been three-betting him repeatedly and he was playing back at him. TV is so skewed.

[crack]

AFAIK there will only be three tournaments shown this year. The $40k anniversary tourney, the ME and the ante up for Africa.

Us as poker players would like to see the different games and what not, but unfortunately when it comes to viewing figures, poker players are in the minority.

The general public will only be interested in something like NLH because the rules are very simple and it's easy to understand. When you throw PLO, Razz and whatever at them they just do not have a clue and turn over. I heard somewhere that the non-NLH rating figures were minuscule compared to the NLH figures.

It is probably a smart move for the TV Execs.

[kompis]

u can watch teh final table of a whole bunch of events live at pkr.com if ur not from teh usa
and espn has live streaming if u are american

[HalfSugar]

ante up for Africa.

A premium event

I obviously understand why TV execs do what they do, it's just a shame that there is not another channel that can get access to the footage and create an alternative show that poker players want. I blame Harrah's!

[crack]

Yeah I would like that too Geno, except how much it would cost to run a channel that will no doubt just have low viewing figures and the amount it would cost to produce the shows will not be worth it. I remember they had a poker channel in the UK which I think was round up after about 18 months or so.

Maybe something online is possibly the way to go, but is it just going to be too much hassle for very little reward for an organisation? Probably.

Edit: Yeah I am not interested in watching that event either, but it is supposed to have a lot of celebs taking part. The general public will probably watch it so I guess that overall is good for poker.

[HalfSugar]

Agreed unfortunately. We need someone like Guy Laliberte to run such a channel and just accept the losses.

[Gunslinger]

Don't forget everyone ESPN's episodes start airing tonight.