WSOP Chooses CBS Sports as New Broadcasting Partner

For decades, poker fans have tuned in to the ESPN network to watch all the World Series of Poker (WSOP) action. All of that is about to change after the WSOP recently announced it has found a new domestic television partner, CBS Sports.

The 2021 deal was signed between CBS and PokerGO, making CBS Sports the new home for The Main Event and other gold bracelet events for the near future. The agreement gives CBS exclusive WSOP TV rights. It will see CBS Sports provide 15 hours of coverage for the Main Event and 36 hours covering 18 other gold bracelet events. Details of the coverage will be announced at a later date. The famed poker tournament series will take place from September 30-November 23 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, with the final details of the schedule still being hammered out by organizers.

Not The First Deal Between The WSOP And CBS Sports

The new deal is not the first time that the WSOP has worked with CBS Sports. Way back in the 1970s, the network was actually the original broadcast company of the Main Event. It was aired by CBS Sports Spectacular. With the current iteration of the series, CBS provides an outlet for the poker brand to be featured via multiple channels, which increases the television coverage of the series.

WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart commented that CBS Sports is considered a pioneer in covering a solid range of championship sports.

We couldn’t be more excited to see increased television coverage of the WSOP in the coming years and benefit from their growing media platforms.”

Dan Weinberg, the CBS Sports Executive Vice President of Programming, mentioned in a press release that following the past success with PokerGO, the company is excited to expand the relationship to include the WSOP. Mr. Weinberg stated that the deal fits the company strategy to combine best-in-class events with the CBS Sports brand.

Online WSOP Schedule Released For 2021

Shortly before the CBS Sports deal was announced, the WSOP revealed the upcoming schedule for the 2021 Online Series in the United States. The online series takes place this year before the live WSOP in the fall.

Players can log in to WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey from July 1 to August 1 to participate in 33 gold bracelet events. Each day will feature one tournament event except for July 25, where there will be two bracelets on offer.

Unique to 2021, the schedule is broken down into themes each week. The theme will coincide with each tournament during a given time frame. The themes are:

• Premier Week
• Micro Madness
• PLO Week
• Double Bracelet Day
• Championship Week

The full schedule of WSOP events is out now, so players can begin planning how to take part. Players will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on the WSOP land-based schedule. It is expected that the schedule will be released in the coming weeks as the final details are completed.