WSOP
stream the feel of a televised poker show was something I take a lot of pride in. Obviously, the implementation of commentary was a big step as well and I think our expanded efforts with the One Drop coverage gives you an idea of what our streams may look like come 2013.”
The additional coverage is just another way that WSOP officials are catering to poker fans and players – and continue to build the brand.
“From what I can tell, the reception has been
pretty positive. Poker fans are always excited to see coverage beyond just live updates and I think stepping it up with a veteran commentator like David Tuchman really helped enhance the experience for WSOP fans this summer,” Welman adds. “The players at the final table were all pretty excited that their friends and family could watch along at home. My favorite moments were when players would bust from the final table then graciously agree to come in the booth and talk with Tuchman about the event. A great example of that was the $5,000 Limit Holdem Championship, where this close-knit group of players all stuck around, came in the booth, and really participated in making that stream one of the most informative and entertaining ones we put together this summer.”
As the final table of the Main Event, the play of the
“November Nine” was moved to Oct. 28-30 this year due to the U.S. presidential election, World Series officials are pleased with how the events continue to grow and reach new audiences. The webcasts also proved a major success this year.
“There were increases in every category of
viewership from unique visitors to total site visits,” Welman says. “What category really stands out to me is that we saw the number of hours people tuned into
the stream more than double, which means not only were more people tuning in, but the average length of time they spent watching the stream went up substantially as well.”
ESPN will have its cameras back at the Rio in late
October to film the final days of action as players battle it out for the $8.5 million first prize, the gold bracelet, and the prestige that goes with winning the biggest tournament in poker. As the WSOP continues to extend its brand to Europe and now Australia, the event’s growth from a handful of players at Binion’s Horseshoe in 1970 to the mammoth poker spectacle of today is truly a stunning phenomenon. Casino impresario Benny Binion always believed the event’s success would come through catering to players – and the World Series of Poker continues to carry on that tradition.
Check out Sean Chaffin’s new book, RAISING
THE STAKES: True Tales of Gambling, Wagering and Poker Faces, available as an eBook and in paperback at
www.RaisingtheStakesbook.com,
Amazon.com, and
BarnesandNoble.com. The book features some crazy tales of gambling and poker from underground casinos to cockfights in Puerto Rico. Sean is also editor of
www.PokerTraditions.com, a site about poker history, lore, and people. If you have a gambling or poker story idea, contact Sean by email at
seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net, or follow Sean on Twitter: @PokerTraditions
50 NOVEMBER 2012
$18.3 million winner, poker pro Antonio Esfandiari
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