UK TV Poker - Where did it go????

[robracing]

I don't usually lurk here, so apologies if this has been done to death already...

But, WTF happened to poker on the TV in the UK???

12 months ago, we had two dedicated poker channels, The Poker Channel and Pokerzone, both showing 12 hours or so of daily programming. This was a combination of low budget stuff (eg Barny Boatman's homegames!) and made for TV tournies sponsored by Party, Stars, FT, Paradise etc.

We also had Challenge (UK equivalent of GSN) and Bravo showing multiple hours of US tourny content such as WSOP/Poker Superstars/High Stakes Poker in the prime time to late night slots.

Now we have almost nothing, except for incredibly low-budget amateur MTT crap, such as Poker Night Live and Sky Poker Open.

We have truly gone from one extreme to other.

It was clear that level of saturation coverage that we had last year was unsustainable, but I am sure there is some demand that is not currently being satisfied.

Both online and B&M poker continue to grow in the UK, yet we have been abandoned by the TV networks, in favour of endless re-runs of freaking Catchphrase!!

[tme03]

I would not say there is absolutely nothing on. Challenge usually have about 3-4 hours of poker at night and they are showing new EPT episodes on weekends plus Cash Poker and Poker Superstars re-runs.

Channel 4 & 5 have brand new programs, Premier League Poker and The Poker Den. Plus Sky Sports is showing Betfair Masters of Europe competition.

FTN show a couple of hours of programs at 3am (WSOP 2005 at present)

And Bravo 2 have some poker midday from 1-3pm (EPT at moment).

Hopefully they will begin broadcasting High Stakes Poker Season 3 soon.

[Teddy_FBI]

tv poker was very crazy werid conmcept

[Maliant]

So I am guessing the poker channel didn't do too well w/ the ratings eh?

[PokeReader]

I don't know for sure, (U.S. player), but I would guess it is a sponsorship issue. Before UIGEA, the internet gaming sites were rolling in money, and the way the contacted dedicated audiences was by actually producing poker shows. Every show after the GSN change, and only excepting WPT before that in the US, were made and owned by poker sites, which bought the airtime, and then sold commercials. It was a no-risk proposition for the networks. The sites no-longer have the same up-front money for this, and the same ability to take risks, and many of the small players are very cash poor. So, my guess is the structure of these shows in Europe was similar to what it was in the U.S.

[Maliant]

But online poker is legal in UK so they can still advertise.

[PokeReader]

The point was they don't have the money to produce the shows. Read the post.

[Maliant]

Lol read my reply again, poker is still legal in U.K. and poker sites didn't go bankrupt by a large margin, if anything after ban in U.S. they should be more heavily targetting European markets.

[kerr]

I miss Kara Scott, she's so gorgeous!