Poker’s media footprint continues to grow – from international expansion and syndication to live streaming online. In recent years, that has included a growing World Series of Poker media presence.
The WSOP released details of its 2020 broadcast plans lat week, including a complete Main Event schedule.
Broadcast poker live has become the norm for the WSOP in recent years. The series recently announced its complete schedule for this summer’s events.
A busy WSOP coverage schedule
ESPN and Poker Central will telecast 40 hours of live coverage this summer from the Rio in Las Vegas. There will also be an additional 90 hours of originally produced episodes.
The agreement includes live footage each day of the WSOP Main Event, running July 1-14.
“ESPN’s yearly World Series of Poker coverage has proven to be an annual favorite with our poker fans,” ESPN Senior Vice President of programming and acquisitions Rob Temple said in a news release.
“Through our partnership with Poker Central, we look forward to another season of extensive broadcast coverage of the most popular poker event on earth.”
WSOP takes a multi-platform approach
It’s been a busy few weeks for the WSOP. The broadcast and streaming news came after the WSOP has been slowly releasing details of this summer’s schedule.
Players and fans now have a complete schedule of events and broadcast plans to look forward to.
Poker Central’s PokerGO service will stream exclusive WSOP Main Event coverage outside ESPN’s broadcast windows.
This is part of the series’ multi-platform content approach to reach out to poker fans. It seems many of those viewers are now making their way to play at the Rio as well.
Poker Central/PokerGO remains a key partner
As in years past, PokerGO will also stream other WSOP events throughout the series. A full streaming schedule should be announced closer to the series’ start.
“For the past four years, our partnership with ESPN has been centered on creating the ultimate fan experience by providing wire-to-wire coverage of the World Series of Poker Main Event,” Poker Central chief business officer JR McCabe said.
“We look forward to another year of bringing poker’s premier event to fans all across the globe.”
Poker Central also partnered with CBS All Access in 2019 to stream certain events. There was not word yet if CBS would be returning this year.
Here’s a look at the current broadcast schedule of the 2020 Main Event on ESPN/ESPN2:
| Date | Time (ET) | Network | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 | 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 1A |
| July 2 | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM | ESPN | WSOP Main Event Day 1B |
| July 2 | 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 1B |
| July 3 | 8:00 PM – 1:30 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 1C |
| July 4 | 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM | ESPN | WSOP Main Event Day 2AB |
| July 5 | 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 2C |
| July 6 | 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 3 |
| July 7 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 4 |
| July 8 | 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 5 |
| July 9 | 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 6 |
| July 10 | 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 7 (Play to Final Table) |
| July 12 | 10:00 PM – TBD | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 8 (Nine to Six Players) |
| July 13 | 10:00 PM – TBD | ESPN2 | WSOP Main Event Day 9 (Six to Three Players) |
| July 14 | 9:00 PM – TBD | ESPN | WSOP Main Event Day 10 (Three Players to Winner) |
WSOP.com offering Big 50 qualifiers
One of the big early tournaments this summer in Las Vegas is fittingly, the Big 50 on May 28. The event features a $500 buy-in and should attract a massive field.
Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than 28,000 entries and a prize pool of $13.5 million. Florida’s Femi Fashakin took home his first gold bracelet and more than $1.1 million.
Players in Nevada and New Jersey can now win a seat in the event. The $55 Special Sunday March Mayhem tournaments guarantee a $50,000 prize pool plus an added Big 50 Seat to first place.
As an added value, every player that plays in at least two tournaments receives a Big 50 Seat Freeroll ticket. That tournament guarantees five Big 50 Seats.
Sunday March Mayhem tournaments every Sunday throughout the month. This is your chance to go big!
Check out the complete USPoker review of WSOP.com including an exclusive offer for $10 in Free Play and a 100% Deposit Bonus up to $1,000. Click here for New Jersey. Click here for Nevada.
Photo courtesy of Joe Giron/WSOP
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