Reinventing ESPN Coverage of Main Event

[jojobinks]

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Having covered the WSOP for the last two years, I'm struck by the problems with the ESPN coverage. IMO, the ESPN format is stale and needs some reinvention. Some thoughts:

1. Expand coverage for the poker fanatics. Triple the hours shown and push it to a channel like ESPN Classic.
2. Reduce the coverage of tired acts. I couldn't stomach watching Brenes live, and players like him deserve less time, albeit even though he puts up solid results. It's turned into getting TV time and diminishes the etiquette of the game.
3. Make a more pointed decision to capture the winner. You can't find Jerry Yang or Jamie Gold on Day 1 or 2. But down to six-ten tables, the ESPN cameras spent a ton of time just running to all-in's, halting play. Spend more deliberate time filming everyone left with 100 players down so that you have some interesting coverage to show the FT participants earlier.
4. Look at commentators I know there is a mixed opinion of Norm and Lon. At the least, add some analysts types for a third voice during these episodes. If you want to get rid of them as well, then I can see that as well.

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great ideas. i'd like to highlight moving away from brenes types more and covering the field better.

the problem: it seems to me that they're after rerun value and a general audience. the format as is is obviously very light on poker, and that's by choice, no? why would they want to give up the general viewership so that the poker nerds will be happy?