The Television Coverage of the World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is one of the pioneer events in the game of poker. It is also the one who started a televised format that features well selected exciting poker tournaments on an annual basis. Since then, other big events followed on the wonderful tradition that this huge poker spectacle has started. It can also be said that this event has been there during the ups and downs of the game's history.
The World Series of Poker was first aired by CBS in 1978, where it run for three more years before it went out of air in 1982. The following year, the event resumed its airing on TV for another season before going out again. For three long years, the world looked empty with poker becoming unavailable for the viewers to see on television.
However, the shows absence proved to be short-lived as it was once again on air in 1987. This time it was ESPN that took over the broadcasting chores for the World Series of Poker. The television coverage was great ever since, with the show finding itself at a more stable situation. ESPN somehow found a way to squeeze up the other World Series of Poker events in their hectic air-time schedule.
From 2001 to 2002, the World Series of Poker found a new home. This time it was the Discovery Channel that broadcasted the show. This coverage is basically made up of event highlights and interviews with some of the top players of the game. This brief stint of the event at the Discovery Channel gave ESPN enough time to conceptualize and improve their coverage of the different poker games, for it will resume its broadcasting of the event in 2003.
As ESPN went on to televise the event, it added several events including an in-depth look at the so-called Featured Table. In here, television viewers can get to the game as closest as possible because it shows the different hole cards of each and every player, as well as the moves and strategies which they are about to make. Poker experts and observers believe that this feature truly revolutionized the game which eventually led to more serious following from the diverse audience out there.
The television coverage greatly increased in the next few years as the different preliminary games were added to the Main Event. ESPN did a wonderful job of increasing the air time of the various games of the World Series of Poker, which should live up to its reputation as the pioneer of televised non-stop poker action.