Live Pay per View on the Main Event Final Table?

[de-coder]

I remember last year there was a live poker broadcast (I'm not sure if there was a live crowd or not). It was a one-off 6 person tourney - we got to see all the action (and inaction sometimes). The cards had embedded magnetic encoders so each card was known as it was dealt - including burn cards. I think it was held in Monte Carlo and it was definately live (there may have been a small delay I guess) - they even took breaks during commercials.

It was pretty cool, I'm surprised they haven't done it again - it was great fun to watch. It was not at all boring, even during a span where Devilfish stole the blinds 4 or 5 hands in a row...

[Robbie Robb]

I believe you're right about it being Monte Carlo. It was some type of black-tie invitation thing that Ivey won I think. I had missed the original live broadcast but caught a rerun of it. I remember that they had a few technial glitches with the RFID tags (or whatever tech they use) but had the hole cams as a backup system.

[New Guy]

Oh wait i'll be there trying to knock you out.Should be fun

[Defendant]

From what I know, they broadcast the big cashgame at the bicycle on the internet with a 5 minute delay, so I dont see why they couldnt do it with the final table here. Although I have to say one of the greatest thing about the cardplayer audiostream was that you DIDNT know what they had, and listening to the pros debate the hand and what they thought the players had. Its one thing to have smartass announcers belittle every play, knowing everything. Seeing how a great players mind works without the revealed holecards is just...wow.

Defendant

[Reel Deal]

Heres' some additional info I found at the SportsBusiness Daily website:

ESPN To Offer Live PPV Showing Of WSOP Main Event

ESPN will offer a live PPV showing of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table on August 10 that will be available both on TV and on ESPN.com, according to Bill Ordine of the Baltimore SUN. Also, the net’s usual edited airing of the Main Event will begin on August 22; last year’s event ran about three months after the finish. ESPN “hopes that the quicker turnaround” on the edited version will “bolster ratings that sagged” in ’05. The live PPV show will cost $24.95 and will begin at 3:00pm ET. The rail camera that shows players’ hole cards to the home audience on the taped shows “will not be part of the live broadcast.” ESPN Producer Dave O’Connor said that not showing the rail camera “is for security purposes.” O’Connor: “The difference between first and second will be worth millions. Any information that might trickle back to the players, we have to be concerned about.” Ordine noted ESPN’s live telecast will feature “pre-recorded features and a parade of poker pros and analysts commenting on the final table” (Baltimore SUN, 6/20).

- - Published June 21, 2006

[Robbie Robb]

wow, I don't know if I'd want to watch poker on television without the hole cams, let alone pay $24.95 for it. (well okay, I have free American satellite so I won't have to pay anyway...but still...)

That said, I'm glad that they're not using them. I presume that they also will NOT be showing the mucked cards after the hand as well, as that information, if given to another player, could be a huge advantage as well.

One thing though - it'll be cool to see TP live on TV!

[Boobie Lover]

Who would pay $25 to see poker without the hole cards being shown? Wouldn't it be more practical to have like a twenty minute delay and see the cards than do this?

[Talking Poker]

Indeed it will.... Indeed it will.

No way would I pay for this unless someone I knew was at the FT. For anyone who hasn't done it, let me tell you - watching live poker (like from the bleachers) is boooooooooooooriiiiiiiiiiiiing. Even when an exciting hand happens, you usually miss most of the action and only see the result. Watching live on tv would be a little bit better, I guess, but not much, IMO.