This whole shakedown of online sites PokerStars, FullTilts and the two "other" brands has really turned the world of poker upside down in the USA. In terms of PokerStars, they are not only an online brand - they are also massive sponsors for live poker tournaments. Where there is big prize money - the massive stars in this game go! Where big names are - the press is always present. Not for ESPN so it seems; they have foregone the big online brands altogether, and like downing rats off a ship; have dropped PokerStars viewing from their broadcast agenda on the turn - faster than you could say flop!

The recent DOJ indictments of these big poker brand names caught people as well as broadcasters unawares. Both the U.S cable TV network as well as ESPN now have plans in place to expand WSOP coverage. While plans to broadcast online brands have been scuttled, the World Series of Poker will benefit big-time. In fact the WSOP will benefit to such an extent that an additional 32 hours of cover will be tagged onto previous broadcast times. This will obviously be broadcast to the US and the rest of the world.

The additional 32 hours (or more) of TV cover for the 2011 WSOP main event, can be found on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. It takes place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas; for six consecutive days, starting July 14th and ending on 19th July. Again, this is a collaboration between Caesars, which owns the WSOP brand - and the WSOP Players Advisory Council, as well as ESPN. Barry Greenstein - poker professional and member of the WSOP Players Advisory Council; said that “this is a long-awaited step to get live poker on television, and it represents another good collaboration between Caesars etcetera…" The challenge is, as always, to maintain high standards of integrity in terms of the tournament; while at the same time offering poker fans the type of sports entertainment they wish to see.

The format of the production will be daily showing of the World Series of Poker Event; featuring un-edited hands of players still in, together with hole cards - post-flop. Just to ensure that complete integrity is maintained - although this is essentially live poker, there will be a 30 minute delay from Day 3, with two feature tables providing the shift of focus approximately every 30 minutes. All “all-in” and “call” situations will also be broadcast from both of these tables. As fans get to see hole cards post-flop, this really offers them a ring-side seat of all the angst and the action.

WSOP “Grudge Matches” on a five-minute delay will also be streamed live, but with no hole cards shown. The $25,000 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em Championship and the $50,000 Poker Players Championship will be included for interested viewers; and with the additional 32 hours of cover, a total of 158 hours of poker play will be broadcast. These will be prime-time shows which will lead up to live cover of the November nine main event championship.