Editor’s note: This is an opinion piece by Poker author Jon Sofen. The views expressed
here are entirely the author’s 🌈 and do not necessarily reflect those of Poker or its
staff.
We can all agree that having more hours of the 🌈 WSOP on television each year is
good for the game. And that will happen with the World Series of Poker’s 🌈 move from ESPN
to CBS Sports Network (36 hours of Main Event coverage, plus 18 additional hours of
other bracelet 🌈 events).
But we may not agree on how beneficial the channel switch is to
poker and the WSOP. In my opinion, 🌈 for reasons I’m about to explain, it’s not the end
of the world for poker, but ESPN is simply a 🌈 better fit for the growth of the
game.
Yes, I understand that television is a business. From what I gathered when
🌈 speaking with Norman Chad, ESPN’s WSOP co-announcer since 2003, ESPN likely wanted to
get rid of poker, as they weren’t 🌈 making much money televising the World Series of
Poker.
So, while I disapprove of the move, I’m understanding that the switch 🌈 may have
been out of the WSOP’s control. With that said, I fear that the move to a lesser-known
network 🌈 could hurt the growth of the game long-term.
When Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP
Main Event in 2003, his win sparked 🌈 a massive poker boom. Millions of players saw an
amateur Average Joe from Tennessee winR$2.5 million playing a card game. 🌈 If not for
ESPN’s coverage, it’s possible there never would have been a boom.
Playing second
fiddle
CBS Sports Network is the 🌈 backup quarterback of sports broadcasting, whereas
ESPN is Tom Brady. On CBSSN, you’ll find mid-major college sports programming, fantasy
sports 🌈 talk, the Jim Rome Show, and lower-tier sporting events. Whereas, on ESPN,
you’ll find NBA, MLB, NFL Monday Night Football, 🌈 and some of the biggest college
football and college basketball games, along with popular shows such as
“SportsCenter.”
All that info 🌈 might not seem like a big deal, but ESPN has contributed
to the growth of poker, not just the World 🌈 Series of Poker. The WSOP airing on the most
watched sports network in the U.S. has helped the game reach 🌈 out to millions of casual
fans.
The World Poker Tour is a bit similar in that the shows on Fox Sports 🌈 reach out
to recreational players. And that also helps grow the game. Fox Sports, like ESPN, is
available on virtually 🌈 every cable and satellite package, even to consumers who only
purchase the most basic package. CBS Sports Network, on the 🌈 other hand, is mostly only
available for those who purchase a specific sports package, which costs extra
money.
CBS Sports Network 🌈 is a cable channel within the ViacomCBS company. It is not
the same as CBS Sports, a major brand within 🌈 the main CBS network. CBS Sports airs some
of the biggest sporting events in the U.S., such as the PGA 🌈 Tour’s Master’s Tournament,
Sunday NFL football games, and SEC college football games in the fall. If the WSOP
moved over 🌈 to CBS non-cable, a channel available to virtually everyone with a TV, that
would be different and could potentially be 🌈 an even better spot for poker than
ESPN.
There is one benefit to the new WSOP television deal. Namely, poker fans 🌈 who have
the CBSSN channel will get to watch more World Series of Poker coverage this year than
ever before. 🌈 The sports network has agreed to televise 36 hours of the Main Event along
with 18 hours of additional bracelet 🌈 events.
Over the past few years, the Main Event
has been the only bracelet event televised on ESPN. PokerGO has also 🌈 live-streamed
final tables of many other events. This year, the non-PokerGO audience will have an
opportunity to watch some extra 🌈 WSOP events, and that’s a good thing.
But I don’t see
this being positive overall, at least not for the growth 🌈 of the game. Fewer casual fans
will catch a glimpse of WSOP coverage, and I’m not sure how that benefits 🌈 the WSOP or
poker in general.
Featured image source: Twitter
