The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is one of the most prestigious and sought-after events in the poker world. Every year, thousands of players from all around the globe participate in this tournament to win big cash prizes and earn their place in poker history.
For many years, ESPN has been the exclusive broadcaster for this event, providing live coverage of the WSOP Main Event and other tournaments. However, recent changes in the broadcasting rights have raised questions about whether the WSOP is still on ESPN.
To answer this question, we need to first understand the history of WSOP on ESPN. The partnership between these two giants started back in 2003 when ESPN acquired broadcasting rights for the WSOP from Binion’s Horseshoe Casino. Since then, ESPN has been covering all major events of WSOP and has been a significant contributor to its success.
Over the years, ESPN has made several changes to its coverage of WSOP to make it more engaging for viewers. The network introduced several new features like hole-card cameras, which allow viewers to see players’ cards during play. This innovation was a game-changer for poker enthusiasts as it added an extra level of excitement and suspense to the game.
Another notable change was made in 2011 when ESPN started airing live coverage of the Main Event final table rather than just edited highlights. This move was received positively by fans as it allowed them to follow their favorite players throughout the tournament.
However, things started changing in 2017 when ESPN lost its exclusive rights to broadcast WSOP events due to increased competition from other networks like CBS Sports Network and Poker Central. Despite losing its exclusivity, ESPN continued to air some parts of WSOP tournaments.
Fast forward to today; it seems that there is still some confusion among fans about whether or not WSOP is still on ESPN. The answer is yes; however, it’s not as extensive as before.
In recent years, ESPN has scaled back its coverage of WSOP, airing only select events and tournaments. This could be due to the loss of exclusive rights to broadcast WSOP events and increased competition from other networks.
To summarize, the World Series of Poker is still on ESPN, but its coverage is not as extensive as before. Fans can still expect to see some of the best moments from WSOP tournaments on ESPN, but they will need to look elsewhere for live coverage and updates. Options include CBS Sports Network, Poker Central, and other online streaming platforms.
In conclusion, the partnership between WSOP and ESPN has been a mutually beneficial one that has helped popularize the game of poker worldwide. However, recent changes in broadcasting rights have resulted in a reduction in ESPN’s coverage of WSOP events. Nevertheless, fans can rest assured that the WSOP will continue to be an exciting event with or without ESPN’s extensive coverage.
