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The event is played when there is nothing of importance in sports going on, never mind endless network reruns. Tell me they can't edit each day in 24 hours, broadcast them and then show the final table 24-48 hours after its over, when people are still talking about it.

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My personal idea is somewhat close to this.

During the WSOP I would do a 30-minute to 1 hour highlight show every single night, be it broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 (more likely) or ESPNEWS, going over the previous day's events (who won bracelets/monied, interviews, quick highlight or two, throw in a fluff package) and go over quickly what's happened so far during the current day's events.

This would allow "average viewer" to keep up with the WSOP in real-time without really giving away too much of the action at the table (I'm thinking more highlight/fluff show obv, like the old MLB baseball weekly shows), saving the card playing drama to be shown during the regular broadcasts after everything is said and done.

The shows could be 30 minutes during the majority of the WSOP, and then they could up it to 1-hour nightly shows during the Main Event, especially on the later days. More fluff packages, more highlights, etc., leading up to the Final 9.

Then you have the day off. Have a 1-hour special on the day off highlighting the Final 9. And plug the hell out of the PPV.

Do the full PPV for the people that want to pay and see all the action from beginning to end. Will help get some buys if done right.

Then when the Final Table is over have ESPN highlight the damn thing on Sportscenter and make it big news, first segment highlights/review with Phil Gordon and Ali/interview with the champ and some other final tablists important. During this time-frame all they have is MLB and NFL training camp, so they have time to fill.

And then do the final review show the next night, showing highlights from the final table, more interviews/fluff, press, etc, and hammer home that you can see all the CRAZY~! EXCITING~! ACTION~! starting NEXT TUESDAY~! at 8pm ET.

(Actually by this time they should have about 2 weeks worth of "regular" shows aired already with early bracelet tournies)