WSOP ME FT to be aired live, with a 'slight' delay?

[drewjax]

WOW. I really dont know what to think of this. Good for everyone, except, ummmm, oh ya, THE PLAYERS!!

[Wes]

I like the idea from a standpoint of how well this will improve the ratings and promotion for the game. Also, the donks that make it to the final table will likely get coached by big names which will help the popularity of well known pros which only helps the game. Overall, good for the popularity of poker, which is only a good thing for me.

Although there are certainly a lot of problems. The big one being that death, illness, and other things may cause the player being not able to attend. What would happen if one person can't show up for whatever reason? What stack do you give the final table bubble boy? Do you even let him in at this point? Do they distribute his stack evenly among all the players % wise?

I'm sure with how incompetent Harrahs people run the WSOP, they won't figure this out. But if they did, this could be a good thing.

[Talking Poker]

This is absurd, so I am sure it will happen.

[Invigilator]

I think the Harrah's people have watched a bit too much of "The Bachelor"

[Reel Deal]

One problem with this: live unedited poker can be painfully boring at times, especially to the uneducated masses that watch ESPN.

[Talking Poker]

FYP.

[GTDawg]

Can we get Phil Hellmuth to sit in and give his card guesses and stuff ala early 2000 final tables?

[drewjax]

Apparently this is a reality.

from DN's blog:

The WSOP Blockbuster News Story
01 May 2008
So if you haven't heard, the WSOP final table will occur three months after the players make the final table. The final table will take place on November 10th, it will be edited down to a two hour show, and then it will air on the 11th. The show won't look all that much different than WSOP shows in the past.

There will be no pay-per-view live feed of the final table this year. Each player who makes the final table will receive 9th place money, with the rest of the money being invested. The players would receive interest on that deposited money, not Harrah's.

The reason for the three month delay is so that the WSOP broadcast schedule can air both the preliminary events as well as the lead into the final table. That many episodes takes about three months to air. There isn't time to air all of the main event episodes leading up to the final table so that an "almost live" final table could air immediately after that. The only way to do that is to delay the final table until after the ESPN shows air.

This decision obviously will change the dynamic of the final table, but it also offers some great opportunities for poker to get some more mainstream media
attention. The nine players at the final table will become quasi celebrities, much like reality TV stars. None of the players would be obligated to do any interviews or media in general, but if they chose to, the opportunities would be there.

The way the WSOP main event airs now, the public is usually already aware of who won. The final episode plays out more like a documentary, a la, this is "how they won." That will now change. Everyone will know who is at the final table, but for three months, the question will change to "who will win" which I think is more exciting.

You can't air this thing live on ESPN. They will NOT change the structure at all or hurt the integrity of the event, and if you signed a deal to air it live, you'd have to escalate the blinds quickly if it ran long. The closest we can get to live, is "almost live" so that the crew has time to edit the show and turn it around in less than 24 hours.

The final table will end very late on the 10th, so late that the outcome will miss the morning papers and media Tuesday morning. Wednesday morning, after the show airs on ESPN, it would hit the papers. Obviously if you go online you'll be able to find out who wins, but if you prefer to watch it "live" you can choose to wait less than 24 hours and watch it Tuesday night.

What this is supposed to do (we'll see if it works) is help to create more talk around the water cooler. It's supposed to build up more interest in the final nine players and that final episode where they play for it all.

Pros:
-more media attention
-more hype and build up for pokers premiere event
-better ratings for the final episode
-makes the WSOP final table more of a sporting event rather than a documentary
-follows even more of a reality TV model that has proven to be successful in attracting fans
-endorsement opportunities for the players

Cons:
-All players will have coaches. This can be seen as a pro depending how you look at it, as the play at the final table will be much better.
-could very well change the outcome of the eventual winner.
-When play starts back up, you'll have no reliable feel or reads on players who could play completely differently three months later.
-You could have a no show for various reasons.
-More time for players to discuss side deals (the penalty for doing this could be severe, but that doesn't necessarily stop all players from considering it)


I'm sure there are more pros and cons, but that is a decent list. All in all, I think this concept has the potential to be a really good thing for poker. If not, well, then we go back to the traditional format next year.

Things change. Formats change, tournaments change, sports change. Purists hated the idea of showing your hole cards to a camera, but look at what that's done for poker. Baseball purists hate inter league play, some hockey fans don't like the new NHL with less physical play.

Even the game of hold'em changed. It used to be played with just one blind, but that changed and a two blind system was created so there would be more action.

I think the poker world should support the efforts here to try and improve the WSOP main event and understand that if it flops, it's not the end of the world. We can always change it back next year. I say, give it a chance. It's a gamble, but hey, aren't we all poker players?

[2Tone]

I did NOT think this was going to happen, but it was gone beyond rumor stage.



I hate this, FWIW. Yes, it may help the ratings/awareness, but there's no way it is good for the players, and it feels like a stunt.

What next, a final table reunions show?

Best post from 2+2
"Can we make the FTers live in a house together for the three months leading up to the event, and film their wacky lives?"

[2Tone]

I find it very telling that the very first line of the WSOP's official communication on the topic mentions the sponsor before anything else.

The World Series of Poker® (WSOP) Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light today announced a groundbreaking change that will more closely align the televised presentation of the world’s largest, richest and most prestigious poker tournament with other premier sports broadcasts.

Is it ironic that's I'm upset about a gambling event having done everything it can to maximize its profit?

[jdiana86]

Although they receive 9th place money, I wonder how many will have already spent some, all, or more than what they may win.

[omahilo]

I think its messed up because with 3 months off they will have time to get training and talk to other people about the players at the final table... Plus alot of big names like Chan and Hellmuth could possibly have a hand in working with some of these people to try to make them better and get a % for themself on top of it.

[Talking Poker]

Not everyone is you.

[Talking Poker]

I'm torn on this. At first, I hated the idea, thinking it was bad for the players. But, really, it effects the players all the same. They can all get coaches. They can all completely change their games. They can all lose weight, get lots of sleep, not change their lucky underwear for 3 months, and so on and so forth. They can all (this is the big one) land lucrative sponsorship deals that will be worth more than a set up in the pay scale.

I actually think I'm getting on board with this. But it certainly doesn't feel like "poker" any more.

And if even one player is a no show, ESPECIALLY if it's because of something tragic, that will crush this whole idea forever.

[Wes]

Yeah I think this is a good idea really. Will get way more publicity for the sport and the fact that people can self promote way more should discourage some of the negative aspects.

Although, I do think it is bullshit that people are going to be sacrificing at least 30k from interest they would make from 9th place money over that 3 month span AND the players don't even get compensated in any way and still have to pay rake.

[Talking Poker]

Actually, they get paid 9th place money right away and the rest of the prize money will be held in an interest bearing account.

[hackers238]

Please be causing the next pokerboom. I want more fish.

[2Tone]

What the WSOP really needs is a way to attract more interest/marketing dollars, right?

It is desperate for some kind of revolutionary concept would guarantee the largest field in the tournament history -- over 8000 players. Something that would make sponsorship dollars flow like wine. In fact, sponsors would be so eager to participate and attract new players, they could have a free fan-friendly expo where everyday players could meet/greet pros, buy merchandise, etc.

If things go really well, you might even end up with a remarkable Cinderella storyline in which an aptly-named nobody emerges to win the title and become an unlikely champion.

What could possibly happen that would ever make this scenario a reality?

[Reel Deal]

2Tone, that will never happen. Get real dude.

[hackers238]

What if everyone had to pass there cards to a tournament referee before starting the hand, and he whisper them to us backstage? That way we would know them as the hand went on...

interesting, no?

[Reel Deal]

That would slowdown what will already be painfully dull and boring to watch... so, no, not interesting. Sorry.

[Invigilator]

Post of the year!

[Kurn]

I think I'm starting to come around on this.

How can we bitch and moan about Kyl, Goodlatte, et. al. in one breath, and whine about this in the next?

Anything that increases visibility and attracts corporate sponsorship naturally counteracts the forces against poker in Congress.

IMO there are two paths for poker to take.

1: Go back to the old days. Keep it quai-underground. Embrace that as poker players, we're outlaws on some level and thus accept our fate from a legislative/tax aspect.

2: Bring poker completely into the mainstream and hope that by mainstreaming the game we solve not just the legislative issues, but the tax issues as well.

IMO, we can't mix and match the two. While in theory, I'm equally comfortable with both alternatives, in reality the genie is already out of the bottle and choice #1 probably is not viable.

Bring on the corporate sponsorships.