The future of poker
 

What do you guys see happening with the future of poker on TV. If the trend continues, I can see channels that only broadcast poker related stuff. And after seeing the full tilt event, I'm thinking there may be more live events that show every hand.

It's only going to get bigger. You will also see better competition. "Online" players aren't going to be just newbies who lay bad beats on people. In the next few years (maybe even less) we're going to see some VERY HIGH buyin tournaments...

Wait and see.

How was the Full Tile event? What channel was it on?

Hopefully someone will rip a torrent.

I am surprised to hear this. Granted I should have looked past my own desires, but I just don't find watching poker on tv as enthralling as it once was. I don't learn much because of the editing and the "highlight" hands that they select so I figured it reached its climax. I'm not gonna say I don't find myself watching it anyway, heh. I watch it to see the Poker culture now, not so much the actual playing. Poker on TV has no where else to go I think... However, I won't underestimate the creative minds that exist behind TV.

Next up: Phil Helmuth on the Surreal Life.

I think the priize pools will continue to increase as more players get involved, but I can't imagine the buyins getting to much bigger for the main events. As the odds of a good player outlasting a field get longer, the investment vs reward starts to get murky even for the best players.

Also, 10,000 is a lot for online sites to compensate for. If it became 50,000 only the sites with the most traffic could guarentee seats without looking to take a hit if not enough players show up/qualify. Not saying the online sites are strapped for cash or anything :D, just that they make a good deal off of the qualifier tourneys now, if they quintupled the buyins, less players can afford it, so they might end up not making AS MUCH.

It will be interesting to see (and play through) the next year or two and see how these things shake out....

i think eventually people will stop watching on tv, but i still think more and more people will continue playing.