In the recent past (~5 years ago), before PokerGo, many more events were streamed live (for free), including many of the mixed gamed events that PokerGo often neglects to stream. Many of us were (and are) happy to pay for a live stream of all the events, and that's what we were hoping we were going to get when news of PokerGo first broke. People were (and are) rightfully disappointed that the number of events available to watch decreased drastically when the process went from a free to a paid service.

That's the standard by which intelligent, informed people judge PokerGo.

We have less live footage, and what does that have to do with race? I guess its understandable that someone who makes such an ignorant comment is also the kind of person who feels the need to shoehorn race into every issue, no matter how unrelated.

'Sanctioned' deals are not allowed at WSOP and I'd be surprised if either of these guys would risk a ban and/or be willing to flip for a bracelet when it's really the only title that carries major long term significance in the poker world.

If you listen to the conversation after the hand they were discussing that it was actually a good call with QJo probably being the bottom of the barrel in that spot. That didn't sound like a couple of guys getting ready to meet out back to finish a deal. GL

This fails to see the entire picture though

The amount of poker shown on TV has increased dramatically overall due to PokerGo

While you may get less WSOP events in return you get tremendous high stakes mixed games in Dolly's Game, we got a great new season of High Stakes Poker, and lots of NLHE and PLO high rollers where you get to see the hole cards of the top nosebleed players in the world

So if it means we don't see a 2500 Omaha8/Stud8 final table, so be it

This is a fair point. Overall there is more content (even if it's paywalled) and some of that content does make it on to YouTube.

what the ****. PokerGO why do you continually let the audio feed from the booth and the table step over each other so you cant comprehend either one.

have one of these for each feed. to the left makes volume go lower. its not rocket science

On that we can agree!

I'm going to judge you by your join date. We used to get one main stream with commentary or if we wanted there was 1-2 more streams of side tables to choose from. Most events got streamed and they did this for a few years until PokerGO bought the rights.

True, but Joe Poker doesn't care about Dolly's game, Poker After Dark or even most of these High Rollers. If I was a betting man I would guess that membership jumps dramatically the weeks before the WSOP and many of them cancel right after. Maybe High Stakes Poker drew in a few more people, but most of their membership is there for the WSOP.

Less 2.5k O8/Stud8 is a pretty awful business practice when the majority of people who subscribe is there to watch someone win a bracelet. Not streaming when a boom era player with a huge following is going to leave a lot of people with an awful taste in their mouth.

PokerGo has amazing production values, I totally understand when they stream when there are 5-6 players left. But I think most would be ok skimping on Dolly's Game and putting all hands on deck for WSOP coverage.

lmao PokerGO is absolute trash. I will say though, their customer service rep was very nice and helpful when I called to cancel my sub and get a refund.

I like it as is, and most serious poker players probably would feel the same way. If you are viewing it from PokerGo's perspective on what may drive viewership that's not my concern but I can't imagine a bunch of people signing up for one month will do month will do much for them.

Would rather watch players like Dan Zack, Scott Seiver, Gus Hansen, Aaron Katz, John Monette etc playing 1k/2K cash game as opposed to a 2500 O8/S8 WSOP final table where the players would be less accomplished and playing skewed due to ICM

Be great if the viewer had control of both somehow, same with sports, be able to turn the sound up or down for commentary or the crowd.

Thats a great idea. Its not always clear decision o which audio feed everyone would want to listen to. Even when players are talking sometimes its just gibberish and might be more entertaining to listen to booth. The decision on which one would be better will vary by person at any given time, so yeah why not let each person decide.

anyone care to take a stab on how a streaming service could offer this ? any examples of this in other streaming markets?

By reading this you agree to terms of Kerrs NDA (you know public disclosure problems for his utility patent filing)

How about two audio controls: audio volume and audio balance? Volume is as we already know it and balance starts at default 50%, that is, evenly split between audio stream 1 and audio stream 2. If a video has only one audio stream, the balance setting does nothing. But if there are two audio streams (poker players + poker commentators, sports crowd + sports commentary, etc), then the viewer can control the balance. Maybe I want to more clearly hear what a poker player is saying, or maybe I want to watch a sports game and feel like I'm there, that is, without tv commentary.

I'm kind of surprised they aren't running impromptu cash games on the off days. Hustler Live has had Dwan, Ivey and Jungleman on all in the last week. Seems like a great opportunity to infuse some extra viewership. Any idea if they are filming another HSP this fall?

PokerGO is good quality and high production but they just come off as so lazy when it comes to their schedule. Showing very few events and this year they started the only showing the final 5 crap which has been woeful. As if diehard poker fans wouldn’t want to watch a full final table?

I know they’ve hinted at “staff issues” and blamed covid for the reason for few events and hours but it’s BS because they did the same stuff in previous years.

Filming dates have been moved multiple times this year due to imposed travel restrictions involving the players that are wanted in the line-up by the sponsor.

Season 9 is currently scheduled for later this year. Fingers crossed.

Main event coverage should be good. Looks like an extensive schedule for it.

Mori,

Production quality is awesome (as always) for the Main stream(tech glitches aside). But for your pokergo subs, the commentary I heard last night makes the stream close to unwatchable.

Understanding the stream is being captured for CBSSports airing later, and for that audience the booth commentary is perfect with Lon, Norman and Jamie and they do a great job.

Im not asking for conversation with chart carrying GTO Nerds. But for us watching the unedited stream live, please tell me what we heard last night is not plan for rest of Main.

Let Tuchman lead the way and just have running stream of others come in the booth. I think thats how you did pre-PokerGo when it was just streamed for free. It was awesome.

Your subs (actual poker players) should get poker commentary. CBSSports audience (general poker interest audience) should get what makes it entertaining for them (Lon/Norman/Jamie) type audio.

My two cents fwiw.

Have to agree with you there. I know it’s day 1 but they often just jabbered and bantered straight through hands, even if they were somewhat interesting. Kerstetter tries to add some analysis but she often gets sidetracked by a Lon joke or something.

Need a better mix of analysis vs discussion I think.

I disagree here. I feel like day one and day two need a relaxed vibe in the booth. It's hard to fill so much airtime off the cuff and I think the story telling, jokes and tangents are perfect for the rhythm of these days before the event starts getting serious and every hand matters.

On previous ME coverage they've definitely tightened up as the field gets shorter and poker becomes more of the focus, but watching them discuss pre-flop ranges for 200bb deep amateurs or semi-pros would be rough.

Good point. It is early .

But, early play with 100s of BB is just as interesting to me as late play. Would love to hear some poker strat thought leader's comments/analysis on how they navigate early stages of a tourny like this with loads of unpredictable recs doing all sorts of unpredictable things. In early stage its more of an exploitive conversation imo than charts and stuff. Both play styles always important but maybe weighting of each changes as avg stack size continues to drop. Just guessing as I know only the basics of GTO style and have way more fun and seem to do better focusing on exploit stuff. I never get to hear much commentary on that stuff.

Either way on above, reason I posted comment was fear that what we heard last night is the plan for rest of paid subscription streams.

Agree 100 percent. And Stapes and Hartigan have shown how well you can balance entertaining commentary and jokes with actual analysis over long livestreams. It can be done. Just not with Lon and Norm.

Yes and that type of analysis over 100BB stack early flight poker would actually be useful to recs as they are way more often in those spots than they are in late stage ICM spots.

I agree - Poker Go will never be mainstream thus commentary should be for poker players specific( more strategy). CBS could be more fun and entertaining.

absolute ****ing dogshit we lost free ****ing streams that we used to get for 7+ years. legit whether it be no commentary or with commentary

just sad.