Ty Stewart's "Blockbuster" idea for 2008 WSOP

[Zetack]

X-Posting in NVG and Tournament Circuit.


Ty Stewart, Director of Sponsorship and Marketing for the World Series of Poker has this idea for the WSOP. I don’t like it much unless somebody adds 3 or 4 million dollars to the final table payouts on top of the prizepool contributed by the players.

[ QUOTE ]
They have a brief discussion about the 2008 World Series of Poker, for which Ty has a blockbuster idea.
He wants to broadcast the Main Event final table LIVE.
WITH HOLE CARDS.
The idea would be to play down to the final table and then adjourn the Series. All the other episodes of the Main Event would air and TV would have a couple months to get to know the players. Then they would reconvene and play a sequestered final table and the later portion of the final table would be broadcast live. The audience would see every player's cards and commentators would be able to analyze the strategy in real time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Linky

[Ultra Violet]

Lame. Sounds too much like a reality show, like the Apprentice or something.

Plus, how long do they think the final table would last?

[New2NL]

No chance if I was at the Final table would I want this, jesus I have to wait months to get my hands on life changing cash that I paid to win? This isnt a WSOP Freeroll where I loose nothing, I am in the hole 10K and waiting to get my cash.

Terrible Idea he should be shot

[Dawg24]

what if they paid everyone 9th place money before you left...???

I kind of like the idea...anything that makes poker bigger on TV...gets more fish in the pond...

[olivert]

I like the idea, but not for the final 9.

The HEADS-UP match, and ONLY the heads-up match, should be saved for live TV with a 2-month break and presented "Mark Burnett" style.

[Todd Terry]

I think the primary problem with this idea is that it would allow extensive training/learning by the players who happen to make the final table and aren't very good, thereby minimizing the equity of the better players. Additionally, one of the skills employed at the final table is using the knowledge you acquired during the tournament about the particular players, and this would go out the window because in many cases I think you would be facing a totally different player a few months later.

If they want to broadcast it live with hole cards, just broadcast it live with hole cards on PPV. Or on ESPN. Do they really think anyone is currently watching the ME Final Table broadcast without already knowing who won?

[betgo]

If they are going to do it that way, then do it without the delay to edit and show the earlier parts of the ME. With the popularity of poker, they could probably get the necessary audience showing it live with hole cards on ESPN, probably on a weekend with an earlier starting time. I am not sure how they handle commercial breaks though.

[nuclear500]

The break is the dumbest idea ever. A person loses all momentum they might have gained and the feeling of the other person.

People will have time to adjust their game, etc.

[Jurollo]

Sequester the FT and broadcast the FT live on PPV with hole cards

[mshalen]

Let the viewers vote off the players they don't like. This has all kinds of potential. Of course none of this will work in real life.