PokerStars.net is debuting a similar concept to NBC's Face the Ace (which briefly aired on Saturdays in primetime) called the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge with according to PR has both a high production value and is in a highly preferred time slot – following the NFL on FOX broadcast.
I'm not sure just how how cushy the timeslot is though, but I have a weird view of things being a west coaster. Here, the show will not air after the game, but before it (from 12p-1p).
Big Shots: Titans at the Tee had been running nationally in the slot after the game. Last week's 1pm national game on FOX averaged 19.33 million and the national post-game coverage that followed (which granted, had a duration of only 3 minutes) dropped to 13.37 million. Big Shots averaged 1.42 million. But that's probably pretty good considering its primary competition: the NFL on CBS (that averaged 18.1 million). Having a show that's targeted at males that has to compete with the NFL? That doesn't sound like a such a cushy time slot to me, no matter how grea the lead-in is...
The airdates for PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge (Sunday at 4:30 PM EST, and if you're like me, other times in other time zones, so check your listings):
- - October 11
- - October 18
- - November 22
- - December 13
- - December 27
The show is also airing on these dates in Canada on Global TV.
I’m guessing that PokerStars wanted to get in on the action that FullTilt Poker has been getting with Poker After Dark and Face the Ace (which seems to have disappeared locally for me on Saturday afternoons). I bet this didn’t cost Fox anything! PokerStars probably gave them the show for free as one huge product placement.
Full disclosure: I play on PokerStars.com. (I’m not any good.)
This makes sense. Copy one of the lowest rated shows on the lowest rated network (of the big fo’). Brilliant people running FOX.
From what i have read this has more of a game show feel …basically a more entertaining dumb-down poker…still right not FOX seems a better match for this target than NBC ratings which seem to be in downward spiral.
I guess we will all have to wait until 10/11 – but i bet this is not going to be as big a disappointment as Face the Ace was.
I really don’t get this whole poker tv thing. Playing it is fun, but watching a bunch of guys sit around a table on television playing cards? Hardly my idea of entertainment.
Here is a preview video:
http://www.pokerstars.tv/channels/3485/movies/show.html?video_construct_id=10200