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.
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