The final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event is now over, and ESPN has released information about the ratings for the event, which was hosted in Las Vegas. It had aired the final table the same day it was played.
According to the ESPN announcement, television ratings for the tournament, which was aired earlier in the week, were up 50% from last year’s ratings. This was explained, at least partly, with the fact that the show aired shortly after play concluded, instead of months later, as had happened in previous years.
The show attracted more viewers than the average on the network for a regular season major league baseball or NBA game, with 1.9 million households watching the final table, compared to 1.25 million in 2007.
In previous years, the final table took place in July, straight after the qualifiers and the other main event play. This year, there was a break between the early stages of the main event, and the final table.
World Series of Poker spokesman Seth Palansky said: “What you did was creating a must see television event which wasn’t the case the past few years when you knew who the winner was. It was the whole ‘Who will win?’ element.”
The organizers have not commented explicitly yet on whether the final table will be delayed again next year, although they have said that television ratings would be one of the factors influencing the decision.
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