via press release:
World Series of Poker Finale Draws 2.1 Million Viewers on ESPN
With 21-year-old Joe Cada of Michigan setting a record as the youngest champion ever, more than 2.1 million viewers watched ESPN’s same-day coverage of the World Series of Poker, presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, from Las Vegas on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The telecast earned a 1.8 household coverage rating in an average of 1,806,113 households, a slight decrease from the 1.9 rating earned for the 2008 finale.
ESPN’s 15-week schedule of World Series of Poker coverage in 2009 included 31 telecasts averaging a 1.0 rating, even with last year. However, averages for households (1,024,901) and viewership (1,228,008) increased nine and seven percent, respectively, from 2008, and the important Male 25-54 demographic saw a 13 percent jump from 2008.
It only took one year for the record for youngest winner to be broken. Denmark’s Peter Eastgate was 22 when he captured the 2008 crown.
When Chris MONEYMAKER won the championship, I thought it was amusing. But when Jamie GOLD won it the following year, I had to stop watching.
Moneymaker won it in 2003, Gold won it in 2006
Great world series this year. Lots of exciting poker. I’m glad there is space on ESPN for poker!
I dont understand how people could watch this. I find it as exciting as watching paint dry.
@E — when paint drying pulls in 2.1 million viewers, maybe someone air it for you. In the meantime, um, just don’t watch the WSOP? Or bother reading/commenting on posts about its ratings?
Thanks for the correction, sha. Time flies.
It was great drama this year – that is until my DVR cut off at the two hour mark when they were still three-handed. WTF?!? I had to go online to see that JO-EY! JO-EY! Cada won. Memo to ESPN: This is NOT a live event. You had two days to stitch it together. If you’re gonna go over the time slot you post, have some common sense and inform the TV guides. Sheesh.
Better luck next year, Phil Ivey…
EJ exactly, it cut off from my DVR too, major fail for ESPN editing team. At least warn us. Thank goodness for Youtube.
While I did enjoy watching this WSOP season on ESPN, this final table was a mess. The winner just got lucky … again and again. Not skill. Luck and only luck. The kid cannot claim any skill. He might as well be the spokesperson for four-leaf clovers. I know I will laugh if he comes out with a poker book.
And delaying the final table for months. Why? I could see at most until the next weekend. But months??? [b]Bill and/or Robert[/b], care to try to explain that logic?
The only thing good to come out of the final table is the death of the age watch in WSOP. No one younger can win it since you have to be 21 to enter it.
Scott, it takes them some time to assemble all the footage together to show all the WSOP preliminary events as well as the Main Event. The November Nine started last year as a bold marketing ploy to build up the prestige and viewership of the Final Table for WSOP & ESPN. The argument is that in airing the shows weekly starting in August, it’ll build up the suspense of the undecided champion at the Final Table. Any casual poker fan pre-November Nine would have heard of the winner of the Main Event back in July, ruining any suspense of the Final Table when it originally would have aired in ESPN’s schedule in November.
I’m just glad Darvin Moon didn’t win. He’d have just taken his bracelet up to Wyoming with his hillbilly friends and never be heard from again. “I’m new to this game.” Uh huh. What an awful ambassador for poker he would have been. At least we’ll see Kid Cada around more than a Jerry Yang.
My DVR cut off too. I know that Cada won, but would still like to see how the last few hands played out. Anyone know where I can find it on the web?
Roll Tide!!