Harrah's Releases Telecast Schedule for WSOP
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) announced today that ESPN will telecast 32 hours of original programming of the 2006 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light.
The ESPN telecasts will be aired every Tuesday at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time beginning July 18 and continuing through October 31.
In addition to the regular telecast schedule, poker fans will for the first time ever have the opportunity to see the Main Event's final table live. For a suggested retail price of $24.95, poker fans can purchase for their TV screens or computers The World Series of Poker Live! a new pay-per-view special starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 10. The live coverage will continue until the champion is crowned.
"ESPN's live coverage will be a historic first for the game of poker," said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the WSOP. "This is another example of how our partners are innovating for the benefit of players and fans alike."
Produced under the ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) banner, this year's WSOP will be covered by up to 25 cameras, as well as an overhead camera that will travel the length and width of the tournament area. The specially constructed final table used throughout ESPN's coverage will incorporate up to 10 "pocket cams" in the table's rail to show viewers the players' cards, and a "rabbit cam" under the table next to the dealer may show viewers the card that would have been dealt next should a player fold.
ESPN, Inc. reached a multi-year agreement with Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. to televise the World Series of Poker through 2010, beginning with ESPN's telecast of the 2006 World Series of Poker. In 2005, the World Series of Poker on ESPN enjoyed its longest presentation ever averaging a 1.3 rating for more than 1.1 million viewing households. It has been EOE's highest-rated series for the past three years.
2006-06-26
