The Ratings Game –
ESPN’s Main Event Numbers May Bode Well For Poker
Wicked Chops Poker breaks down the TV broadcast.
The entities over at Wicked Chops Poker say the numbers are in and the numbers look good for poker.
With the Main Event behind us and a champion crowned the only thing that’s left to do is sift through the rubble and that’s what WCP did when they were handed the ratings of the 2014 WSOP Final Table on ESPN.
According to WCP, ESPN actually received a healthy 10-13% year-over-year jump in ratings for the Monday broadcast as the final table played down to 3 players. Then, though, the ratings took a 6% dip (again, year-over-year) when the broadcast returned on Tuesday night.
The final three was an absolute nut-kicker worst case scenario for TV viewership in the U.S., essential pitting three mute non-Americans against each other.
But even with that take, which would seem grim for “mainstream” audiences. The ratings were still better than some regular season games in leagues like the MLB and NBA.
So what does this mean for poker in general. Well, the guys think it looks good and that if this kind of trend continues, you may actually get to enjoy more poker on TV in the years to come.
Don’t take our word for it – check out the whole write up over at Wicked Chops: 2014 WSOP Ratings and State of Poker TV
Do You Think This is Collusion?
This story still has the poker community talking. Real life poker couple Kristen Bicknell (who is signed by partypoker) and Alex Foxen made the final table of a tournament at The Venetian in Las Vegas last month. Their alleged soft-play and collusion has the poker community riled up with the likes of Doug Polk and Justin Bonomo still talking about it long after play finished up.
Here you can read some hot takes as to what really happened, and if it can be defined as collusion.
Doug Polk sums up what has happened over on YouTube.
Justin Bonomo has much to say on the matter—definitely read his post right to the end. “I do not think they intended to cheat or collude. I do however think some ethical lines were crossed in very egregious ways.”
Mike Watson’s thoughts which are spoken about in Bonomo’s post are here —with Watson suggesting a 6 month ban for the couple.
ICYMI: Phil Hellmuth's Grand Entrance at 2018 WSOP Main Event
Words escape me. Prepare yourself for the grand entrance from WSOP 14 time bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth (as captured by PokerNews).
Doyle Brunson Will Retire From Poker After Last WSOP Outing This Summer
*Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson has announced his retirement from poker so that he can spend more time with his wife, who is in failing health.
Watch Chris Ferguson's Nothingburger Full Tilt Statement
It has only taken 7 years for Chris “Jesus” Ferguson to apologise for his part in the Full Tilt fiasco that followed Black Friday. He has finally commented via Vimeo. Check it out below.
Jaime & Matt Staples Win Prop Bet!
A year on from agreeing to a crazy prop bet with billionaire Bill Perkins, the Staples brothers have walked away with $150,000 and won their bet to get within 1 lb of each other.
#QUEENRULES At Unibet
Unibet have worked with creative agency FCB Inferno to release a custom deck of cards to accompany the launch of a new poker format where the Queen outranks the King.The project is intended to help draw attention to gender equality and unconscious gender bias in poker.
Daniel Negreanu: "Forget Books...Watch Twitch Streamers"
Daniel Negreanu has taken to Twitter to let his followers know that he thinks Twitch streamers are “more engaging and entertaining than a book”.
The Kevin Hart Hand Everyone is Talking About
You need to see it to believe it!
Watch: Kara Scott's Top 5 Poker Topics of 2017
888poker’s The Poker Brief with Kara Scott released its year in review episode last week focusing on the “top 5 topics that matter” in poker.
Welcome to a New Dawn: PokerStars Announces the PokerStars Player Championship
PokerStars has revealed the PokerStars Player Championship NL Hold’em event for January 2019.
Liv Boeree Stars in Video Sponsored by Hewlett Packard
Professional poker player and PokerStars sponsored pro Live Boeree appears in a video released last week about artificial intelligence and poker.
WATCH: Doug Polk Gives Advice on Avoiding Poker Scams
In Doug Polk’s latest video, the subject is all about “scams, hacks and angles” that players should watch out for in the poker community.
Phil Hellmuth Thinks He'd Have Made A Good US President
In this great interview with CardPlayer Lifestyle, Robbie Strazynski goes one-on-one with Phil Hellmuth ahead of the launch of his new autobiography “The Poker Brat”—which Hellmuth hopes will become a New York Times Bestseller—to really find out the man behind the famous name.
2017: The Year of The Durrrr Challenge?
It looks like 2017 might be the year that Tom “Durrrr” Dwan and Daniel “Jungelman” Cates can resurrect the Durrrr Challenge.
Doyle Brunson Dishes The Dirt On Bobby's Room Bust Up
Thanks to pokernyhederne and some cryptic tweets from Doyle Brunson it was revealed that the two men who lost their shit in the Bellagio’s high stakes Bobby’s Room were none other than Gus Hansen and David Oppenhiem.
Fedor Holz Challenges You To Read 40 _useful_ Books Before The End of The Year
We are bit late to the party on this, but back in late November Fedor Holz challenged his twitter followers to read or listen to 40 new books before the end of the year. All in the name of bettering yourself. I think.
Brian Hastings Moving On From Poker, Brewing Tea Instead
Brian Hastings is moving on from this turbulent industry of poker.
Pics! Jason Mercier & Natasha Barbour Tie The Knot
After a few minutes of creeping on Twitter, we have managed to round up some of the best photos from the much anticipated wedding of Jason Mercier and Natasha Barbour.
Introducing Doug Polk's Comedy Show
Branching out into the world of YouTube beyond his usual poker shows, Polk is now reaching for heights of internet stardom by trying to recreate the success of renowned YouTubers such as PewDiePie, Markiplier, and jacksepticeye.
Brian Hastings Sees Similarities In His Multi Accounting And Hillary Clinton's Emails
Brian Hastings has taken to his blog to tell us all why this election is so important to him.
StarsFun Skills Zone Adds to Festivities at PokerStars Festival in New Jersey
The Atlantic Ballroom at the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey is the scene of the all new StarsFun Skills Zone. Those attending the new PokerStars Festival event in New Jersey can not only blow off steam while taking a break from the poker tables, but they can take the opportunity to even get in a little extra action.