Where does TV poker coveage ad money go?

[Grasshopp3r]

Greg is a board member of the PPA. Does he characterize the PPA as a union? Does he envision some sort of qualifying process like the PGA with their own separate events or does he view the egalitarian nature of poker with basicly unlimited fields where everyone who puts up their cash can play?

[Greg (FossilMan)]

The PPA is definitely not a union. While I wish it were possible for poker players to unite and bargain for more of the tv money and other revenue streams, I'm realistic enough to know that it is very unlikely to happen. It is just not like a physical sport where everybody can clearly distinguish between the best and the second tier. As such, if we unionized and went on strike to get our due, it is quite likely we would just be replaced, and not missed enough to have market power. I hope I'm wrong, and we can do something down the road.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[baggins]

Greg -

I'm sure it's been considered, but...

Why not start your OWN production company and host tourneys around the world with TV and the whole nine yards? You and some of the other big names you're connected with could easily (i'm sure its not as easy as it sounds, of course.) put together the funding and use your contacts to get something going.

Of course, the current WPT, WPC, WSOP etc. tourneys have an advantage - they already exist and are household names.

However, if you guys play your cards right, and inflate prize pools with sponsorhip dollars, you could attract some of the BIGGEST names (aside from yourselves of course) and instantly have THAT leverage in terms of viewership. people want to watch the big names. if your tourney has the biggest names, you should get more viewers.

i know its not very concrete, and there's a lot of work and details to make something like this happen. but, the way i've always seen things, if you want to effect change in the way things work, you must lead by example. you can lobby and argue and plead, but if you simply start doing things the way they ought to be done, then over time things will come around.

obviously, this is pretty optimistic. but it's the only way things get done.

[CaryDarling]

[ QUOTE ]
Greg -

I'm sure it's been considered, but...

Why not start your OWN production company and host tourneys around the world with TV and the whole nine yards?

[/ QUOTE ]
You mean like the PPL? LOL
Right now there is just no ad revenue for these events. Poker was not allowed to mature enough to interest such huge mainstream advertisers so you could have events like..."The Cadillac Open." "All - In with American Express," etc.

Maybe some day...but for now most ad revenue came from online poker sites which now can't really advertise to an American customer base.

[CaryDarling]

[ QUOTE ]
Same place the ad money goes for sitcoms, dramatic series, and "reality" shows: to the production companies who put up the money to make them.

Poker shows are cheap to make, but definitely not free. In addition to the commentators, and pretty girl, you have a substantial number of crew and a lot of equipment, and the trucks to haul it. Somebody has to pay for all that, and whoever pays, expects to make a profit.

[/ QUOTE ]

That money also trickles down to the "content," who without them you could not have a show...even then actors constantly renegotiate contracts as their worth to that show increases...or when the potential revenue for the show increases / changes. For example, the show gets sold into syndication, or is now packaged and sold as DVD's...when this occurs the actors get a % of that.

The crews who film those shows belong to unions who not only ensure that their members get proper credit, but are paid a fair wage, and are not taken advantage of.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

As of now, you can't get anybody to pay you for providing them with a poker television show. The current trend is time-buy, where the show is not only produced by somebody outside the network, but somebody also pays the network to air the show. As such, even with all the biggest names, you wouldn't be able to pay for production, pay for the time-buy, and pay the players any money. The ad revenue you might have access to just isn't going to be enough to cover all of that.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[baggins]

right on. obviously you have more experience and insight into this than i do. thanks for answering my question.

[goofball]

OP,

Apparently the price they are charging people to play in poker tournaments is what the market will bear.