ESPN To Broadcast World Series of Poker until 2017

ESPN extended their deal to broadcast the World Series of Poker (WSOP) through 2017.

ESPN has aired the WSOP since 2003. The current contract runs through next year. The new deal begins in 2011. ESPN will pay a rights fee. Terms were not disclosed.

Taped coverage of the World Series airs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPN International and more.

With ratings down slightly this year some may see this extension as a surprise, but poker still has plenty of 18-24 male viewers which is a key demographic for advertisers. This essentially gives ESPN a stranglehold on the largest poker event on TV until popularity wanes.

I’ve mentioned here that I’ve moved on from watching poker on TV, but I’m not the average person. I usually adopt before the average person and move on before that same person. 2017 seems like the right time for the guy in Iowa to be tired of poker on TV.