A World Series of Poker (WSOP) advisory notes significant changes to the annual WSOP tournament format following new global television and digital media rights contracts agreed with ESPN and Poker Central.
Expanded programming will include live event coverage and original episodes throughout the year, the organisation said, and for the first time same-day coverage on ESPN from day one of the Main Event to the conclusion of the final table.
Beginning with the 2017 WSOP, several notable changes will take place, including the elimination of the “November Nine” format, which will be replaced by live coverage of the WSOP Main Event final table on ESPN/ESPN2 over three-days in July.
Live coverage will broadcast on a 30-minute delay as per gaming regulations.
ESPN will telecast an estimated 40 hours of live WSOP Main Event coverage each July, plus a commitment of original packaged shows totaling 130 hours annually. Any coverage not aired by ESPN will be streamed exclusively through Poker Central’s digital distribution channels.
“ESPN has been our home since 2002 and we’re delighted to extend the relationship into the next decade,” Ty Stewart, executive director, WSOP, said. “Having every day live coverage of the WSOP Main Event is truly a huge commitment on behalf of ESPN and Poker Central and we look forward to delivering to our faithful audience wall-to-wall action from the outset for the very first time.”
“We are thrilled to add the preeminent poker brand, the World Series of Poker, to our growing portfolio of poker-related content,” added JR McCabe, chief digital officer, Poker Central. “We have major plans to reinvent the WSOP offering to greatly expand how, when and where fans of the game of poker can watch and engage with the game.”
“The World Series of Poker has been a longstanding staple of ESPN programming,” concluded Dan Ochs, director of programming and acquisitions, ESPN. “We are pleased to reach an agreement to continue to carry the sport’s most prominent event and modernize our coverage with the new same day live coverage throughout July each year.”
The new broadcast agreement runs through to 2020.