The World Series of Poker has announced an expansion of their live coverage plans for their upcoming season. Their schedule now lists 55 separate gold-bracelet events, each of which will feature two-camera coverage. Viewers will also be treated to the sounds of the tournament’s announcer once play has reached the final table.
To discourage cheating of any sort, the broadcast will not reveal the hole cards of the players at the tables. The programs will also be run on a thirty minute delay. These two safeguards should all but eliminate any concerns posed by tournament participants.
“We are proud to provide video of the culminating action to a worldwide audience in real time,” said Ty Stewart, Executive Director for the WSOP. “This online initiative will complement our spectacular television package on ESPN and deliver even more of this year’s WSOP to fans who want the most immediate coverage possible.”
Opinions on how this will affect the game are varied. Barry Greenstein, one of the most respected names in poker, has long supported the idea of semi-live coverage. Others are more skeptical, especially when it comes to the showing of a player’s cards. While a broadcast delay would prevent live cheating, there are other possibilities that are somewhat troubling. Consider the advantage observers could have, building up a picture of a player’s tendencies over the course of a tournament. While it wouldn’t guarantee success for a disreputable opponent, it could provide a distinct edge.
However things shake out, it will certainly be an interesting experiment. Check out the WSOP website for full details and a complete schedule.