The Television Coverage of the World Series of Poker
Characterized by many people as the most famous of all card games, poker captivated the hearts of players who are eager and interested in improving their bankroll from playing games that test their cognitive abilities. Poker is a game that is enjoyed by many gamblers because they have fair chance of winning in this game. In this game, all players should do to succeed is to learn the skills and strategies in poker and they would be able to improve their odds in actual games of poker.
Stud, Texas Holdem, Omaha and Razz are some of the common variations of poker. Each of the variant of poker offers different opportunities to players. Hence, players should explore them to know which of the variants will allow them to maximize their stakes. The best way to discover the popular variations of poker is by participating or watching poker tournaments like the world series of Poker.
A major and prestigious tournament for poker players, the World Series of Poker, has attracted the attention of poker fanatics since many games are offered in this event. Many players participate in the World Series of Poker because they can win big prizes and pots if they will beat other professionals who usually play in the event. However, for those who are not yet prepared to play in the tournament but are interested in watching the events in the World Series of Poker, they have nothing to worry since television broadcasting networks cover this international event.
The 1973 World Series of Poker is filmed by Horseshoe to allow poker players to view or watch the event. After several years but still during the 1970s, CBS Broadcasting Inc. got the rights to cover the succeeding World Series of Poker. Meanwhile in the early part of the 1980s, due to some confidential reasons, CBS failed to cover the annual tournament. This is the time wherein ESPN finally got the rights to cover the World Series of Poker.
In the starting years of ESPN, the television broadcasting company only cover the highlight or the main event of the tournament. The broadcast journalists of ESPN are allowed to stay in the rooms where the events are held so the television coverage of the World Series of Poker is clear and detailed. Since 2003, ESPN covers the other events in the tournament, which made it more interesting to poker players.
It is true that the television coverage of the World Series of Poker has contributed to the explosion of the tournament. On the other hand, viewers and gamblers should also know that ESPN and CBS benefited from their television coverage of the event, because in some way the coverage affected their ratings because many poker players are following the events in the annual tournament.
