BJ, the same thing that woulda given you an earlier invite to the conference call can give you comment-editing abilities. But do know, we have strict comment editing policies here at Pokerati. I generally adhere to them.

Even Gabriela can’t get a straight answer from the higher ups at ESPN International in Bristol CT, New York, or London right now in regards to international broadcasts of the WSOP.

As for ESPN’s International networks and partners region by region:

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Canada – TSN (English), RDS (Spanish)

Caribbean (English) – ESPN Caribbean, ESPN2 Caribbean

Latin America North (Spanish) – ESPN Latin America-North, ESPN DOS

Latin America South (Spanish) – ESPN Latin America-South, ESPN Mas

Brazil (Portuguese) – ESPN Latin America-Brazil, ESPN Brasil

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Western and Central Europe – North American Sports Network (NASN), ESPN Classic Europe

Middle East and Northern Africa – ESPN Middle East

Israel – ESPN Israel

Sub-Sarahan Africa – ESPN Africa

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Australia – ESPN Australia

New Zealand – ESPN New Zealand

Islands of the South Pacific – ESPN Pacific Rim

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Note that the WSOP does NOT air in Asia (with the exception of the Philippines via syndication) due to legal licensing issues with the local government-owned and/or government-licensed gambling monopolies in each country and territory. In Asia, the WSOP can air on local TV only if Caesars pays the gambling monopoly in each country a partnership and/or licensing fee.

Also note that ESPN, Inc. does NOT have management control of any ESPN-branded network in Asia.

In Japan, Sumitomo is the managing partner of J Sports, which has 4 channels including J Sports ESPN. The WSOP has never aired on that channel because Caesars has never been able to negotiate a satisfactory licensing fee with the Japan Ministry of Finance.

In 25 countries and territories in Asia between Pakistan and South Korea, ESPN STAR Sports Limited (ESS), which is managed by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation via NewsCorp’s control of STAR TV, controls all ESPN-branded channels out of a facility in Singapore. None of the Singapore-based ESPN-branded channels (including ESPN China, which is now bigger than ESPN U.S.) has ever aired the WSOP.

There are dozens of legitimate reasons to dislike this plan, and Doyle’s argument against it is that it seems like a “little overkill.” What does that even mean? A 2 week-delay would be okay, but not 16 weeks? Delaying the final two players would be okay, but not the final nine?

You can disagree with Daniel Negreanu’s opinion/blog about this, but you can’t deny that he understands the plan and has spent a lot of time thinking about it. Right now, I can’t say the same for Doyle Brunson.

Since the vast majority of those watching poker on TV are poker players, I don’t see any gain in delaying the final table. I see more downside than up. There have always been deals, but 117 days allows a lot of time to make deals. However, we will see. I have been wrong before.

The biggest benefit to the hole card cam is slowing collussion and dumping which was rampant. In local games, having to show cards in “All In” situations also slows collussion and dumping.

What I do want to see is anything that will increase the chances of getting poker legal in Texas. I came from St. Louis and we had poker. It was safe, you knew there was a game, and there was less cheating.

I have to go with Marvin on this one, though, because I’m sure Doyle has been hearing all about it at the Big Game and other outlets, since the topic has been discussed for months now. He’s one of the old-schoolers, hesitant to accept change, and wanting to keep as much tradition in the game as possible.

I’ve always liked Doyle…

If I could edit it, I’d delete the last line entirely.

It just strikes me that Doyle’s opinion is based on first hearing “final table delayed 16 weeks” rather than carefully considering the full list of pros and cons. He doesn’t cite any specific reason he thinks it’s a bad idea, other than “it seems a little overkill or something to me.”

During the conference call, Jeffrey Pollack admitted that he didn’t know what ESPN International had planned, but they’ll certainly have something planned. I don’t know about a live pay-per-view feed though; I’d expect them to do something similar to what they are broadcasting in the U.S.

And Marvin, I respect the hell out of Doyle Brunson, but his quote in USA Today sounds like he hasn’t listened to the entire pitch yet. Is he on the Players’ Advisory Board? If he’s not, I’m guessing that he was just called out of the blue and asked to comment on the situation. Regardless, his is a very non-committal quote with no details. (As opposed to Daniel’s blog, for instance.) If you’re going to blindly follow someone else’s opinion, you might want to carefully consider how they formed theirs.

The one thing I don’t get are the folks mentioning how people bitched when the hole cards came along. That is like comparing apples to oranges. The hole cam is not changing how the tournament works. Pausing the final table for 3 months can change the entire outcome of the tournament. Have I mentioned yet how retarded this change is?

Where is Oliver when we need him?

I’ll see if I can find out anything about the international viewers.

I know they said no PPV, but with the international scope the tournament has had in recent years, they should do something for those outside the US who’re interested. Like I said in the previous post, are those viewers going to be delayed even further than usual (I know plenty of people on 2+2 outside the US would ask when the broadcasts will air in their part of the world (I’m sure Oliver can fire those international partners out much better than I could)? My post also mentioned that anyone with WSOP credentials would be able to attend and provide updates.

They did mention that anyone with media credentials, which I’m assuming is not limited to PokerNews and Bluff, will be able to post live final table action as it happens, even if it’s 24-48 hours before the ESPN broadcast. Pollack mentioned that he thinks that will cause even more people to be aware of it and tune in to see the actual show.

Garry, got a link to his saying as much? I haven’t heard him say that yet?

I think it will increase the rating for the first showing if they can keep the results off the web sites. However, if the results get out, it might actually decrease ratings. The few nonplaying viewers of poker don’t know when the tournament was played. Us poker players watch, although I tape them to cut the “Air Time” to see how the ppros play and maybe get a read of those we might play against.