Harrah's drops ESPN for WSOP coverage

Not too sure if this is true or not, got this from www.rgpaccess.com:

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada has
announced that ESPN will no longer be doing the television
broadcasting for their upcoming World Series of Poker tournament
event. Gary Loveman, CEO of Harrah's entertainment group, made the
announcement at a press briefing held Thursday in the Las Vegas
Casino.

"Harrah's Entertainment Group, and the Rio Hotel have canceled all
ties with ESPN. Due to current events, Harrah's entertainment has
decided to drop ESPN's coverage of the World Series of Poker.

I would also like to say that we are quite pleased with ESPN's past
coverage of the World Series of Poker, and that we are parting ways
under favorable circumstances. However, we are certainly disappointed
with a recent fictionalized television series witch portrays poker,
and those associated with it, as dishonest and unsavory characters.
This does not sit will with the executives at Harrah's Entertainment,
and to my understanding with poker players at large. We are much
chagrined that ESPN would choose to showcase poker in such a manner.
We do not approve of this television series and believe that the
stories told and the "fictionalized" characters presented could not be
further from the truth.

To our way of thinking ESPN wants to have things both ways. If their
intent is to dramatize poker to such an extent that it harms the
reputation of the game, while at the same time promoting and
broadcasting said games, then by association we do not wish to have
them as our television partners. There are many viable media
alternatives available even at this late stage, and we are looking
into all of them with interest. We are currently shopping for a
broadcasting company who will showcase the World Series of Poker and
its colorful and exciting participants in its very best light.

So, in an effort to cater to the growing interest in poker as a sport,
Harrah's Entertainment Group and the Rio Hotel have decided to part
ways with ESPN moving ahead into the next decade. As soon as an
agreement has been reached with another television network, a press
conference will be held making the announcement.

We are looking forward to the upcoming World Series of Poker and are
expecting a record breaking turnout."

thats kinda dumb because what other major network is going to drop regular programming for a sports event, specially the way espn rolled out the red carpet for the tourny and made it what it is today. i mean just look at the growth the last 3 years.

Yeah... the only reason for the growth of poker is because of ESPN's coverage at the WSOP. If people didnt watch that on TV, no one would know what hold em or omaha are. This is a really stupid decision on Harrah's part.

I agree fully with their decision, they are talking about "TILT" and Jro34, with the emense interest in NL poker tournaments nowadays they will have no problem in getting another broadcasting company to pick up the series. Tilt is harmful to the groth of the game. I see collusion increasing at the B&M that I play at, we don't need to try and influence more collusion, because then it becomes apparent that the only way to win is to collude.

Harrah's is doing the smartest thing they can by distancing themselves from the same network that paints such a negative image of the game. They will have ZERO problems getting on a new network due to the viewing audience these days. And they (Harrah's) will lose nothing in the process. EVERYONE knows when and where the WSOP is held. And EVERYONE knows that they can get in cheap through sattelites. The bait has been set out by ESPN over the last 2 years. Nothing's gonna stop the public interest now. Personally, I wish there was some kind of pay poker network or something. I don't know about anyone else, but I think poker and kids in America (perhaps anywhere) is a BAD combination. It's definitely more than what most (not all) kids think it is. And to all the 15, 16, 17 year olds that think they're the next Stu Ungar (the same ones that don't know who Stu Ungar is, I'm sure)--just wait until you lose your first $1k. And then, because you are young and stubborn, you lose another $1k to recoup. And then you lose another $5k because you KNOW you can't lose three times in a row. It's a game that-1)CANNOT be played the right way without money being involved, and 2)should not be played for money (theoretically) by someone that doesn't know the ins and outs. And most (not all) kids that play do not have a clue. I'm sure that most people here that play a regular game with young people involved know what I mean. In a game I play at regularly ($50 freezeouts-/$1-$2 NLHE cash game) there are three young guys in their early 20's that like to play. They watch plenty of WSOP an WPT and can do chip tricks so they think they have it down cold. In the last 5 months, I've taken over $2,800 from the three combined. And that's just me at ONE game in the USA. I can't even fathom how often this happens on a larger scale. And as far as the cheating that goes on on the TILT show. Just how long does anyone think it's going to be before some ignorant, cocksure couple of kids tries that stuff they saw on the TV show in the WRONG game and gets done in REAL bad. I've seen it happen. It's ugly when it happens to someone in their 30's. I think it would be LOTS uglier if it happened to some dumb teenager all over their $250 paycheck from some fast food place or store in the mall. The TV exposure is what has peaked more young people's interest in the game, so it only stands to reason that a TV show ABOUT cheating in poker will influence some (not all) of them as well. Poker is a beautiful, challenging, person-to-person game of skill , courage, and psychology. It's such a shame to see some (not all) people running it into the ground with their reckless, maverick attitudes and lack of respect. But hey....that's just my opinion. If you don't like it, sue me. Just don't deal me out.

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what matro said about it getting ugly if they cheated, it reminds me a lot of rounders. when they get caught dealing from the bottom of the deck, and just get stomped to the ground.

Harrahs is definitely doing a smart thing with this. So now will Harrahs still hold the WSOP, but it wont be on ESPN? Im guessing thats what it is. I did like ESPN broadcasting it, but oh well, as long as all of the events are on tv Im fine.

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The WSOP this year starts in June, rather than the usual Aoril kickoff. It's going to be played at the RIO, which is another Harrah's property. The main event will run from July4-15

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