With ESPN Day 2 Coverage WSOP ranking

Earlier this year, ESPN had to face condemnation from the supporters of poker for not televising $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship by the network at World Series of Poker 2009. The officials of ESPN after time period of ten episodes and five weeks said that they are quite satisfied with the conclusions. But next year they are also interested in getting H.O.R.S.E. back. Senior director of programming and purchasing Mr. Doug said that they are very pleased with the ratings and they are on average as compared to the previous year. He said that they are making the right moves in the right direction.

From the ten episodes, an average rating of .75 has been attained by WSOP 2009 and this has increased by three percent by last year’s .73. With more viewers are getting drawn from the coverage, some credit should also be given to ESPN. Doug said that the beginning events telecast by ESPN like $40,000 no-limit hold’em event Ante Up for Africa, and Champions Invitational have made the ratings but they are a little as compared to the previous year.

Last year ESPN telecasted the coverage of $1,000 rebuy tournament, two $1,500 hold’em events, $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship and $10,000 pot-limit hold’em world championship prior to starting the coverage of the main event. Doug said that they don’t want to be stationary and to repeat the events of last year. But many supporters of poker wanted that ESPN should have covered $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament like they did before. Doug was of the view that they could clearly see the condemnation but he didn’t exclude the featuring of H.O.R.S.E. in 2010.

Seth Palansky who is the Communications Director of WSOP said that if the viewers are interested in seeing $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event then Players Advisory Council might have to allow the final table to be played like no-limit hold’em. Doug will not be going to that extent where they have to tell the card player that the event might make a comeback in 2010 at ESPN. Along with all new events like $40,000 no-limit hold’em and Champions Invitational which will be honoring WSOP, ESPN want to demonstrate new aspects regarding coverage. It not assured that these events will be making in 2010, ESPN probably will be looking for new prospects.

Doug said that he will be having a discussion regarding the coverage along with Harrah after the completion of final table of November. He said that he is satisfied with the ratings but he didn’t want to jump on any conclusion regarding what they really mean. He said that they consider the complete season.