Television: % shown hands question

[blingice]

What is the % of hands that WPT shows of the final table, and what is the % of hands that WSOP shows of "The Featured Table"?


Bling.

[Shibby]

It's simply enough to fill whatever timeslot they're alloted for the show.

A final table could last one hand conceivably, so there's never going to be an exact percentage available for that question.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

It varies a lot, but 10% at most.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[MrMon]

It's got to be higher for WPT final tables. If I look at Matt Savage's transcripts, or Cardplayer's, it looks like there are on average 80 hands or so in a final table. What does a WPT episode show, 25-30? I've never counted, but maybe someone knows. WSOP, since they're only an hour, is bound to be closer to your 10% number.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

You may be right. I've never made a WPT final table, so I don't know.

However, when I looked at the final table write-up for the Bay 101 event, I was appalled. They only got in about 15 or so hands per level, a pathetic structure.

If things don't improve, I might start boycotting WPT events in the future. Now that there are so many alternatives, it really wouldn't hurt your poker career all that much.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[whiskeytown]

Funny thing is that if you did make the final table, you would simply be known as a "world poker champion" in the small text under your name, or MAYBE professional poker player.

for whatever reason, (probably competitive ones) - when Moneymaker was on in 2003, they wouldn't refer by name to the World Series of Poker or as to what championship he actually won. - LOL

RB

[Benoit]

I don't understand why someone would want to boycott for that reason alone. Were you worried at the type of poker players this might be creating?

[Greg (FossilMan)]

No, it's just that we the players are putting up the money, AND paying vig, and the WPT is enforcing a final table structure that forces the game to end in a time period so they don't have to pay overtime to their camera crew. Two players are forced to play all-in poker, with skill being a minimal factor, at the end when a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars (maybe millions) is on the line.

I think they should give the players plenty of play at the final table, not force it to be done to their convenience.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[valenzuela]

I think ppl dont mind the WPT structure, I mean theyre on TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!On TV!!!!!!!!

[Hold'me]

Greg does make a valid point. This is, however, the first time I've heard about players complaining about the structure of WPT events. I suppose the enormous pay-outs even out any poor structure.