More Poker on TV

11/22/2008		More Poker on TV
Home History Games News Dictionary		When the officials at Harrah’s and ESPN, the television network, decided to postpone the World Series of Poker final table this year, you could hear the uproar through the roofs of eager watchers everywhere. It was for that reason exactly that these two companies postponed the much anticipated event, to hype up the final table airing to produce more viewership when it finally did air. Did it work? You bet it did. The two hour telecast of the World Series of Poker’s final table played last Tuesday to record high numbers. The ratings soared high above the ratings of the 2007 World Series of Poker by 46 percent. Last year there was a strong feeling of a rise to the climax, that being the winner Jerry Yang taking the crown as top poker player. However this year the postponing of the climax only added tension and suspense, not to mention plenty of time for people to talk about the coming game. All of the talk and tension added up for Harrah’s live audience attendance and ESPN’s ratings with a 53 to 52 percent increase. 2.36 million viewers in 1.91 million households were watching Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov battle it out for the rights to call themselves the World Series of Poker champion. Last year those viewers were 1.55 million in 1.25 million households. ESPN spokesperson George McNeilly said: “We’re thrilled with the results and it’s a tribute to the leadership of Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack and his team at the WSOP in growing poker into a spectator sport.” After a 117 day break the final table game was still a huge success. With the game played on Sunday and then quickly edited and commentary added on Monday to be presented on television on Tuesday. Peter Eastgate would come out on top in the 2008 World Series of Poker and more people in the world know because more people watched.

11/22/2008

More Poker on TV

When the officials at Harrah’s and ESPN, the television network, decided to postpone the World Series of Poker final table this year, you could hear the uproar through the roofs of eager watchers everywhere. It was for that reason exactly that these two companies postponed the much anticipated event, to hype up the final table airing to produce more viewership when it finally did air.

Did it work? You bet it did.

The two hour telecast of the World Series of Poker’s final table played last Tuesday to record high numbers. The ratings soared high above the ratings of the 2007 World Series of Poker by 46 percent. Last year there was a strong feeling of a rise to the climax, that being the winner Jerry Yang taking the crown as top poker player. However this year the postponing of the climax only added tension and suspense, not to mention plenty of time for people to talk about the coming game.

All of the talk and tension added up for Harrah’s live audience attendance and ESPN’s ratings with a 53 to 52 percent increase. 2.36 million viewers in 1.91 million households were watching Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov battle it out for the rights to call themselves the World Series of Poker champion. Last year those viewers were 1.55 million in 1.25 million households.

ESPN spokesperson George McNeilly said: “We’re thrilled with the results and it’s a tribute to the leadership of Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack and his team at the WSOP in growing poker into a spectator sport.”

After a 117 day break the final table game was still a huge success. With the game played on Sunday and then quickly edited and commentary added on Monday to be presented on television on Tuesday. Peter Eastgate would come out on top in the 2008 World Series of Poker and more people in the world know because more people watched.