Changes For ESPN's 2007 World Series of Poker Broadcasts

ESPN issued a press release about changes for their 2007 World Series of Poker broadcasts (see also their TV broadcast schedule). They're adding high definition coverage on ESPN HD, increasing the number of cameras, and providing new on-air graphics. Some excerpts:

Viewers will experience the event from above, around and inside the table with 40 cameras capturing play, an increase over last year’s 26. Coverage will include two specially constructed final tables, one more than in previous years....

The graphics will feature an enhanced three dimensional look with consistent on-screen updates via a swiping technique of old information with new. The on-air graphics along the left side of the screen will include the player’s cards and percentage chance of winning, and for the first time, chip counts and bids for each player. The lower right hand side will include information on the community cards and the total amount of chips being played.

For the second consecutive year, ESPN will offer live pay-per-view coverage of the Final Table in addition to the regular telecast schedule. For a suggested retail price of $19.95, poker fans can purchase for their TV screens or computers via live video stream on ESPN.com....

ESPN.com will offer daily content during the World Series of Poker, including a daily blog, feature columns, chats with professional poker players, and during the final table of the main event, a running real-time blog....

ESPN Classic is currently televising poker re-airs every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 p.m. and as part of a weekly Saturday night All Night Poker series from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Their new final table stadium is reportedly impressive.

One of ESPN's weaknesses has always been how they flit from table to table, showing us sound bites of big hands or people busting out, showing everything but the play on the table with hole card cams. In fact, in the first hour of last year's Main Event broadcast, they only showed 9 full hands; the rest of the time was spent flitting to other tables, on human interest stories, etc. The fact that they increased the number of cameras from 26 to 40 suggests to me that ESPN is unreformed in this respect.