Earlier this week, the second largest online poker site in the world launched 888poker News, a web show devoted to keeping players informed on all things 888poker.
The show, which sees Kara Scott serve as hostess and editor, will offer a roundup of 888poker news from both live and online events.
First Edition Launches on YouTube
“Make it Big” was a motto of 888poker in 2016, and that was the topic of the inaugural episode. In typical newscaster fashion, Scott gave a rundown of recent events, including the recently completed Super XL Series VII.
Among the stories highlighted on the first 888poker News episode were 888poker Ambassador Chris Moorman topping a field of 667 players to win Event #38: $50,000 R&A for $16,453.12 and his first Super XL title, “trojanmouse” taking down the “Champion of Champions” for a seat into the 2017 WSOP Main Event, and “Enigmasility” winning the Main Event for $262,200.
The six-and-a-half-minute video also highlighted current promotions, weekly tournament winners, and of course the highly-publicized grudge match between William Kassouf and Stacy Matuson at the 888Live at King’s Rozvadov.
Matuson prevailed in the best-of-three heads-up affair after winning the first two matches.
The show also welcomed Parker “Tonkaaaa” Talbot to talk about his recent signing as an 888poker Ambassador, his Twitch stream, and his American Poker Award nomination.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been nominated for an award, could be potentially be my first award ever, so it’s pretty exciting,” Talbot told Scott. “[Twitch] is an exciting way for amateur poker players and anybody who is new to the game to just sweat along with someone playing higher stakes than them. I totally agree Twitch is the way forward to poker.”
Why Launch Now?
The new show isn’t the first of its kind. Last year, Poker Central launched PrimeTime Poker Report with Donnie Peters and Sarah Herring. The show featured poker news, insight, and analysis while discussing the latest gossip and highlights.
However, unlike that show, 888poker News doesn’t cover the poker world as a whole, instead focusing on its own brand.
In essence, the 888poker is following in the footsteps of other outlets that’ve established brand-specific content. For example, in 2015 PokerStars launched the “EPT Not Live” podcast to talk all things surrounding the now defunct European Poker Tour.
Similarly, the Mid-States Poker Tour launched the monthly MSPT Magazine, which is akin to a sporting even program and focuses solely on the tour and its properties.
While it may not be unique, 888poker News is a quality production. It also comes at a time when 888poker is making its presence known both live and online.
Renewing its sponsorship of the World Series of Poker, launching 888live Festivals, and signing Ambassadors such as Dominik Nitsche and Natalie Hoff are just a few examples of things 888poker has done to help raise their profile. If all goes according to plan, 888poker News will serve as a direct conduit to players.
888poker News looks to launch new episodes at the beginning of each month on 888poker’s YouTube channel.
