The Changing Look of Poker on TV

Poker has become so popular on television that diverse networks such as FOXSports, the Travel Channel, the Game Show Network, ESPN, Bravo, UPN, and NBC currently have poker tournaments. In most instances, those programs are among their most widely viewed programming. Here are some thoughts on what's up for 2006 and beyond.



Poker has not started to peak. Many of the existing programs will offer more hours of poker, and more new programs will be televised. This will give us viewers more options. The old-timers, such as the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker, get better every year. That includes the sets, the graphics, the commentating, and the overall production quality. However, there is so much demand that viewers still seem to be happy to watch any quality of production. That will change in the future, but not this coming year. There is so much poker on TV now that competition will do their deals, and the best will be the ones to ultimately survive. The cream will rise this coming year.



New types of tournaments will appear on TV. Except for poker that is more entertainment than poker, the tournaments we are used to seeing are championship events with big fields, in which we see the final table, where the standard has been set by the WPT and WSOP.



Recently, I visited the Golden Nugget to view a couple different types of poker programs that should be winners. One is live-action no-limit hold'em with a $100,000 minimum buy-in. We'll have more on that at a later date.



Poker Superstars Invitational III has blown me away. This program has become so successful that FOXSports will broadcast 36 shows starting in April. Twenty-four great players were invited, and each ponied up $50,000 and played five sixhanded tournaments, each on a point system. There is a real lesson here on how to play sit-and-go tournaments from poker's best. Then, the top point getters continue to play shorthanded, with the winners moving on. This series will enable the viewer to see recognizable world champions over and over again.



Additionally, the final eight players who make the quarter finals will also be invited to play a special event on NBC during Super Bowl Sunday, 2007. You can be certain that big-time network TV does not put a two-hour special on our TV sets at a major viewing time without a terrific production.



Speaking of NBC, it tested a heads-up concept this year and is back even more big-time this coming year. If the WSOP is the tournament that every player wants to win, and can, the NBC Heads-Up Championship may become the one that's most respected by the professional community. Sixty-four world-class, recognizable pros will play heads up in a tournament-elimination format. This is tough poker; no random player could win this event.



Card Player will be expanding its coverage of these events for your benefit. We will be certain to alert you ahead of time as to what is on when, as well as report the results to you.