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The World Poker Tour launched it's first season between 2002-2003, and was the very first television show of it's kind in the United States. The show is part of the Travel Channel and is one of the first shows to actively aim to bring poker to a wider audience. The Mission Statement for the WPT states that the intention "is establish poker as a significant televised mainstream sport by broadcasting top poker tournaments around the world under the premier brand of the World Poker Tour."
So how exactly does the World Poker Tour hope to achieve this goal? The answer lies firstly in the two men who are the creators of the show; casino mogul Lyle Berman and Television Producer (and poker fan) Steve Lipscomb. These two men were aware that there are over 50 million poker players in the United States, and over 100 million across the globe. Poker is played at all levels, from families and friends at the kitchen table, to high rolling businessmen and of course, poker professionals who love the game as a sport as well as a gambling thrill. With this in mind, Berman and Lipscomb combined their talents and interests to bring the World Poker Tour to a potentially massive audience of people who were already involved in poker, but also to bring an opportunity to those who were less informed.
The World Poker Tour is exactly that - a tour of the major poker tournaments across the world. The tournaments are filmed and filmed with some success as more than 5 million viewers watch certain tournaments. It is the style of filming however that makes the show so unique and effective.
The tournaments are filmed, but for the benefit of the viewer, a tiny camera is stored in the table, revealing the hole cards of the players to the television audience. At the final table, select cameras are placed around the room, which enables the viewers to see the players, their expressions and mannerisms, exactly the same way as if the viewer was sitting at the table with them.
For the observer, the poker action can be a rollercoaster of excitement as the viewer is able to see the cards of the players, knowing who is bluffing, who has strong or weak hands, knowing who is leading the play. Analysis and strategy is discussed with commentators Mike Sexton, a former poker champion, and Vince Van Patten, a poker expert and tournament veteran. To add extra glamour, there is of course a beautiful lady presenter (originally Shana Hiatt until Courtney Friel took over in 2006) to interview professional players, and introduce elements of the world of poker to the general audience.
The success of the World Poker Tour is on the rise. In Season One, the WPT Championship had 111 entrants and a cash pool of $2,691,750. In Season Two (2003-2004) entrant levels had risen to 343 with a cash pool of $8,342,000. In 2005, there were 452 entrants and a staggering cash pool of $10,961,000. This is a huge increase for a single poker event. In similar fashion, the World Poker Tour Party Poker Million event has also increased, from 177 entrants and a cash pool of $1,013,800 in 2003 to 735 entrants and a cash pool of $7,430,000 in 2005. In 2006, the statistics for each event on the tour are only likely to keep on rising.
The Travel Channel broadcasts the World Poker Tour on Wednesday nights, and it is a great way for those new to the world of poker to pick up tips and see how the professionals play. It should be mentioned that there is an obvious influx of new players to online poker rooms and casinos during the World Poker Tour as fans try to emulate the professionals, and that sometimes this is not an effective way to learn how to play - it is always essential to first master the basics of poker, before trying to copy the styles of poker professionals. Taking this into account however, the World Poker Tour is still fascinating television, that crucially brings the world of poker - its pleasures and its pains - to a millions of people all over the world, acting as an inspiration to aspiring players and also existing as pure entertainment for anyone who has ever picked up a deck of cards and wondered "What if?"
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