Editing World Series of Poker (section)

===2000s===
====Early 2000s====
From 1999 to 2001, the World Series of Poker was broadcast by [[The Discovery Channel]].  These hour-long programs presented more of an overview or recap of the WSOP as opposed to broadcasting an actual live event with play-by-play analysis and color commentary.  The Discovery Channel's broadcast also featured final table players interviews interlaced throughout the show.  ESPN would resume coverage the following year.

ESPN's coverage in 2002 was typical of their coverage in the 1990s (recorded in video, little or no post-production commentary or player profiles, no card cams).  However, the final table broadcast was expanded over two one-hour episodes. The [[2002 World Series of Poker|2002 WSOP]] was the first with the "sneak peek" (later called the pocket cam, or [[hole cam]]).{{cn|date=November 2024}}

====2003 expansion====
In 2003, Fred Christenson secured the long-term rights acquisition for ESPN,<ref name="t313">{{Cite book |last1=Shales |first1=T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SkYN5eMreOUC&pg=PT352 |title=Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN |last2=Miller |first2=J.A. |publisher=Little, Brown |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-316-12576-5|via=Google Books |page=352 |access-date=2024-11-15}}</ref> and the channel expanded their coverage to new heights with their coverage of the WSOP.  They included coverage of the entire tournament, with a "Featured Table".  At this table, the viewers could see the player's hole cards and subsequent strategy.  The action was also broadcast as if live, though on tape-delay.  2003 was the first year that the broadcast covered action preceding the final table. Since then, ESPN has greatly expanded its coverage to include many of the preliminary events of the WSOP, especially Texas Hold 'Em. Also, their coverage of the main event now typically includes at least one hour program on each day. For the first two years of its existence, ESPN was broadcasting one hour programs of the "circuit" events that the WSOP has at various Harrah's-owned casinos, but ESPN did not renew these events. ESPN's coverage now includes many of the trappings of sports coverage, such as lighter segments (called "The Nuts") and interviews. ESPN's coverage has been largely driven by Matt Maranz, Executive Producer for the WSOP telecasts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-04 |title=Bluff: A first-ever look behind the scenes with ESPN at the WSOP |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=bluff_magazine&id=3744246 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Maranz previously worked on ESPN's football pre-game show, and has also produced taped segments for NBC's Olympic coverage.

====2004–2020====
Coverage would increase in 2004 and 2005 to include preliminary events from the WSOP, in addition to the "Main Event".<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2004 |title=2004 World Series of Poker Final Event to Begin on Saturday, May 22nd |url=https://www.poker-king.com/poker-king-articles.php?article=46 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Poker-King}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ordine |first=Bill |date=July 30, 2005 |title=At poker table, ESPN has all bets covered |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-07-30-0507300148-story.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Baltimore Sun}}</ref> ESPN has expanded poker to all-new levels, especially with their coverage of the 2006 WSOP, including providing the entire final table of the 2006 Main Event via pay-per-view airing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Andrew |date=2006-06-09 |title=WSOP's new deal with ESPN includes PPV of final table |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=2476712 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2008, ESPN experimented with the idea of a [[November Nine|delayed final table]]. This idea presented greater sponsorship opportunities and notoriety, culminating in a recap of the Main Event and the conclusion of the 2008 Main Event final table.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2008 |title=World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table Delayed Until November |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2008/May/2007/World-Series-of-Poker-Main-Event-Final-Table-Delayed-Until-November.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref> In 2009, ESPN announced they would again move the final table to November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2020 |title=WSOP 2009 November Nine Ready for Main Event Glory |url=https://www.pokerlistings.com/wsop-2009-november-nine-set-for-main-event-glory-42767 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=PokerListings |language=en}}</ref> The WSOP also decided there would be no rebuy events in 2009. The decision was reached because of complaints that rebuy events provided an unfair advantage to professionals with no limitation on how much money they can spend for an event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Tom |date=2009-03-10 |title=Details on New WSOP Tournament Structure with Triple Stacks |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/details-on-new-wsop-tournament-structure-with-triple-stacks-1453/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> There were 57 bracelet events that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 World Series of Poker Tournament Schedule |url=https://www.wsop.com/tournaments/schedule/?groupID=607 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref> The 2010 WSOP had the same number of bracelet events as in 2009, again with no rebuy events.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2009 |title=2010 World Series of Poker Schedule Is Announced |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2009/Dec/2643/2010-WSOP-SCHEDULE-IS-ANNOUNCED.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref>

With 58 bracelet events and no rebuy events, the 2011 WSOP featured unprecedented "nearly live" coverage, with broadcasts being delayed by much smaller amounts of time while still satisfying [[Nevada Gaming Commission]] regulators. Caesars Entertainment, via WSOP.com, streamed final-table coverage of all bracelet events on a 5-minute delay, although without pocket cams. The ESPN family of networks aired 36 hours of Main Event coverage leading up to the November Nine on a 30-minute delay, showing the hole cards of all players who voluntarily entered the pot once the hand ended. The Main Event final table was broadcast on a 15-minute delay with the same policy regarding hole cards. The first day of the final table was aired on ESPN2 and the final day on ESPN, with both days also streamed on ESPN3 and WSOP.com. ESPN continued to have coverage of the WSOP in 2012.<ref name="m801">{{cite web | last=Collson | first=Brett | title=ESPN Unveils Schedule for 2012 World Series of Poker Television Coverage | website=PokerNews | date=2012-05-08 | url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2012/05/espn-unveils-schedule-for-2012-world-series-of-poker-12610.htm | access-date=2024-11-15}}</ref>

POKER PROductions has produced the World Series of Poker Europe since 2008 and World Series of Poker since 2011. Former pro turned executive producer [[Mori Eskandani]]'s team pioneered the live broadcast format seen at the WSOP since 2011. POKER PROductions has filmed WSOP bracelet final tables and the WSOP Main Event for [[PokerGO]], a subscription video on demand service. PokerGO has had exclusive WSOP broadcast rights since 2017, with shared coverage of select events appearing on PokerGO.

====2021–present====
Starting in 2021, CBS Sports Network became the official television home of the World Series of Poker through a multi-year deal reached with PokerGO.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bengal |first=Chris |date=2021-04-19 |title=World Series of Poker: PokerGO reaches multi-year television agreement with CBS Sports |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wsop/news/world-series-of-poker-pokergo-reaches-multi-year-television-agreement-with-cbs-sports/ |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> Per the terms of the new deal, CBS Sports was set to broadcast 15 hours of WSOP Main Event coverage plus 36 additional hours from select gold bracelet events.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=April 19, 2021 |title=World Series of Poker (WSOP) Leaving ESPN for CBS Sports |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2021/04/wsop-leaving-espn-for-cbs-sports-39000.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Pokernews |language=en}}</ref> In an interview for Card Player Magazine, PokerGO President Mori Eskandani mentioned longtime WSOP broadcasters Lon McEachern and Norman Chad would be back in the booth, along with Ali Nejad, David Tuchman, and Jeff Platt.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=PokerGO President Mori Eskandani Discusses 2021 WSOP Streaming Plans |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/26245-pokergo-president-mori-eskandani-discusses-2021-wsop-streaming-plans |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=Card Player|language=en-US}}</ref>

Live broadcast coverage of the 2021 WSOP moved exclusively to PokerGO.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-01 |title=Watch The World Series Of Poker On PokerGO |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/26207-watch-the-world-series-of-poker-on-pokergo |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=Card Player|language=en-US}}</ref> PokerGO's 2021 WSOP live streaming coverage began on Monday, October 4, and would include 36 days of live broadcasts from more than 20 unique events as part of the 52nd annual WSOP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=2021-09-09 |title=PokerGO® Releases Exclusive Live Streaming Schedule for 2021 World Series of Poker |url=https://www.pokergonews.com/articles/pokergo-releases-exclusive-live-streaming-schedule-for-2021-world-series-of-poker/ |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=PokerGO News |language=en-US}}</ref> As part of PokerGO's live coverage of the 2021 WSOP, and for the first time ever, live streaming of the WSOP Main Event moved to the PokerGO platform and would be broadcast from start to finish.<ref name="f561">{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=2021-11-02 |title=Daily Live Coverage of the 2021 WSOP Main Event Starts Thursday Exclusively On PokerGO® |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/daily-live-coverage-of-the-2021-wsop-main-event-starts-thursday-exclusively-on-pokergo |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=PokerGO Tour}}</ref>