WSOP chooses CBS as New Broadcast Provider

WSOP chooses CBS Sports Network as its New Partner. This will see CBS taking over the role from ESPN, to allow it provide television coverage. (Image Source: Wsop.com)

WSOP (World Series of Poker) has announced that it would no longer need the services of ESPN as its television provider. The announcement was made this week and WSOP disclosed that CBS Sports Network will be the new broadcast provider. The announcement comes after WSOP reached a multi-year right agreement with CBS to allow it to provide television coverage.

Thus, CBS is the new television partner of the World Series of Poker. CBS Sports will now work with a highly-rated subscription video service, PokerGo to create broadcasts for WSOP. Other platforms which CBS operates will also be involved in television footage. One of them is Paramount+. WSOP will announce its full schedule to the public together with full details of the televised that CBS will cover.

Expectations from the New Partner

Like we mentioned earlier, ESPN has been the broadcast provider for WSOP for many years now. The World Series of Poker expanded its coverage after Chris Moneymaker was declared the winner of the main event in 2003 at a time when poker started booming. At that time, players just usually logged in to online poker sites with the hopes of becoming a champion. Chris Moneymaker won a ticket to the major event through an online qualifier. All other players hoped to also win their ticket.

ESPN has a long-standing history with WSOP, but CBS has also worked with it in the past. As far back as the 1970s, CBS covered the Main Event. The television network was the first to broadcast the series. It is expected that the takeover by CBS will bring a new spark to the coverage of WSOP’s Main Event. CBS will air the footage for 15 hours, filming an additional eighteen WSOP bracelet events. In all, CBS will provide a total of 36-hours coverage.

Live and Online Action are Back

WSOP disclosed that the live WSOP and the online series will be back in 2021 for action. The announcement was made a little while before it announced CBS as its new broadcast partner. The live version of WSOP did not hold last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world. With improvements recorded in the fight against the deadly virus and relaxation of the strict measures earlier put in place, players can now look forward to the online series slated to take place between July 1 to August 1.

WSOP just released this schedule. 33 events will be available to online poker players over 32 days. Players from New Jersey and Nevada can also take part when they visit the WSOP website. The action starts on September 30 for the live WSOP. It will go on for 2 months and end on November 23 hosting many tournaments event, WSOP is still working on the schedule so that they can announce the prize moments and the events that will be fixed.

The schedule will also include additional information on the CBS Sports coverage when it is released. It could be that CBS employs WSOP’s assets to provide more airing opportunities for the events. This will give fans more ways to tune in.

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