CBS Sports Network Incorporates World Poker Tour Content into Its Broadcast Schedule
In a groundbreaking move, CBS Sports has signed an exclusive multi-year deal to become the new home of the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the World Series of Poker (WSOP), starting in 2025. This deal marks a significant shift from ESPN's long-standing relationship with the WSOP.
Under this agreement, CBS Sports will provide comprehensive broadcast coverage, combined with exclusive content streamed on Paramount+, CBS's OTT platform. This partnership aligns with CBS Sports' strategy to combine best-in-class sports events with their growing media platforms.
Dan Weinberg, CBS Sports EVP of Programming, highlighted the expansion to cover the highest-profile and richest competitive poker events worldwide. This deal is significant as it reinvigorates televised poker coverage on a major U.S. sports network, potentially elevating poker's visibility and legitimacy as a competitive sport.
The WSOP 2025 events, including the Main Event, are expected to be prominently featured on CBS Sports and streamed on PokerGO, enhancing accessibility for fans worldwide. This broadcasting agreement coincides with the recent acquisition of the WSOP brand by NSUS Group (parent company of GGPoker), which committed to maintaining live WSOP events at Caesars properties for at least 20 years.
The shift to CBS Sports increases the quality and breadth of poker coverage, potentially attracting new audiences and sponsors. Enhanced media exposure can fuel growth in tournament participation and interest in poker as a professional sport. Paramount+ exclusive content adds value by offering deeper insights, behind-the-scenes material, and real-time engagement to fans, creating a richer viewer experience.
The move may also influence other poker tours and events to seek partnerships with mainstream sports broadcasters to gain similar exposure. Overall, this deal marks a potential resurgence in televised poker following years of fragmented or declining coverage, positioning poker within mainstream sports broadcasting.
Meanwhile, the WPT has been televising its series on Bally Sports and BT Sports. Roy D'Silva, a published author with a decade-long experience covering various beats, including Bollywood, OTT, and now poker, is looking to be at the forefront of a significant story in the poker world. WPT programming will be broadcast on the CBS Network, and the first event to be broadcast under this deal will be the 2023 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship, which Josh Reichard recently won, marking his first WPT title.
The WPT, one of the oldest names in the poker industry, started operation in 2002. Roy D'Silva is an avid cyclist and documentary buff. The date of this news article about the WPT's exclusive deal is 5th November, 2024.
- With the World Poker Tour now being broadcast on CBS Sports, poker coverage will expand, potentially attracting new audiences and increasing its visibility as a competitive sport.
- The World Series of Poker events, starting from 2025, will be aired on CBS Sports, symbolizing a resurgence in televised poker following years of fragmented or declining coverage, placing poker within mainstream sports broadcasting.
