WSOP '11 final televised broadcast
The 2011 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Final Table will be broadcasted near live, with a delay of about five to thirty minutes, to protect the integrity of the game and prevent cheating or unfair advantages.
The Delay for Fairness
This short delay allows organizers to ensure that no external parties could exploit real-time information about players' hole cards and strategies, which could compromise the fairness of the tournament. Such delays are standard in major poker events, including the WSOP, as broadcasting hole cards live without any delay would enable collusion or the passing of information to players still in action.
Balancing Excitement and Integrity
This precaution balances giving viewers almost live excitement while maintaining competitive integrity. Other factors influencing broadcast decisions include camera placement and directing choices, which can affect viewer experience though they don’t directly relate to the delay.
A Global Event
ESPN's goal is to eventually reach a point where poker broadcasts are on par with any other live sporting events. The broadcast will not be limited to live broadcasts on its own network, but will also step towards international television.
The "November Nine" and the Delay
The concept of the "November Nine" has come into question due to the near-live broadcasting. Matt Showell (PokerListings) asked for more details about the potential changes to the November Nine format, to which Doug White responded that the tension and excitement of the delayed final table may still be relevant.
Cards on Display
The upcoming WSOP Main Event broadcast will show pocket cards only after the hand is complete, but will reveal folded pre-flop cards in certain circumstances. An example given was a situation where all players at the table have checked, and the small blind raises, causing the big blind to fold. In such a case, we would see the pocket cards of both the small blind and the big blind.
International Representation
This year's WSOP final table has a record-breaking international composition, with seven different nationalities represented. The organisers are calling the games scheduled for the end of the week "Poker of the Nations."
Broadcast Availability
Live internet video on wsop.com will be provided to all internet users living outside the US, while direct residents of America will only be able to access the broadcast on the web channel ESPN3.
The Meeting
The decision to broadcast the 2011 WSOP Main Event Final Table near live was discussed in a meeting attended by Doug White, Senior Manager of Programming and Productions at ESPN, Dan Gati, head of the Poker PROduction team, and commentators Lon McEachern and Norman Chad. Dan Gati addressed the concerns about the delay, stating that the slight delay in the broadcast is not a concern and that rapid data transmission to viewers' screens only serves to heighten interest without affecting the action at the table.
In conclusion, the near-live broadcast delay for the 2011 WSOP Main Event Final Table was adopted mainly as a security measure to uphold tournament fairness rather than a pure production or viewer experience choice.
I'm not sure if the excitement surrounding international sports events is any different from the anticipation around the delayed WSOP Main Event broadcast, given that both strive to balance live action with fairness and integrity.
The structure of the 2011 WSOP Main Event Final Table and its broadcast is more akin to a major sports event than one might initially think, as both are subject to regulations that prioritize fairness and spectator experience.
