Years ago, it was not uncommon to see a variety of poker programs on television. From NBC’s Heads Up Poker to Poker After Dark and of course the WSOP footage, poker footage was not lacking. However, after online poker dissolved in the US, poker shows quickly went off the air. However, with the progress of online poker in the US, many believe that poker shows will now be back in action.
According to a recent article by Reuters, the recent legalizing of online poker should see poker shows back on the television. Jamie Horowitz of Walt Disney’s ESPN stated that online poker should introduce many new people to the game and this should bring a new audience for online poker. It is the ESPN network that offers the World Series of Poker footage and they are currently filming events at the 2013 WSOP.
Because of the upswing of online poker, those in the television industry have begun to discuss new ideas for poker programming. Reality shows that cover female players as well as new online gaming selections are all under consideration. However, some are wary of creating new poker television shows because the option is only available in a few states.
It was back in the early 2000s that poker programming really took off and saw great numbers in ratings and viewings. However when Black Friday hit, in mid April 2011, poker shows pulled off the air as networks did not want to be involved with the charges of money laundering, fraud and more.
However, times seem to be changing for the good in the area of online poker in the US and hopefully fans and players will soon be able to frequently see the games on television and enjoy watching as much as they love playing the game.