The numbers are in, and they are less than awesome. Despite a wildly positive reception from the poker community, elimination of the November Nine did not translate into significant increases in television ratings for the World Series of Poker.
Viewership of the 2017 WSOP Main Event final table on ESPN decreased compared to 2016, which already delivered some of the lowest numbers for poker on TV in the post-Moneymaker era.
Airing on ESPN and ESPN2 from July 20-22, after a 10-year stretch of broadcasts in early November (and late October), the WSOP Main Event final table averaged 615,000 viewers each day, for a 3 percent increase. But with that audience consisting of only 244,000 adults age 18-49, the numbers for that key demographic represented a 5 percent drop. (Numbers in 2016 showed an 597,000 average viewers, and 256,000 age 18-49.)
The numbers for how many watched the final day, seen below, were even less encouraging:
Viewers for Final Day Coverage of WSOP Main Event on ESPN
2008 (2,364,000)
2009 (2,199,000)
2010 (1,563,000)
2011 (1,223,000)
2012 (735,000)
2013 (1,234,000)
2014 (1,160,000)
2015 (1,150,000)
2016 (780,000)
2017 (702,000)
Unpromising Numbers
There’s no doubt Black Friday in April 2011 hurt the game of poker. From the chart above, you’ll notice a significant drop in viewership in 2010, and then another downfall following Black Friday. In 2012, the big dip was attributed to competing with a presidential election, which is why the WSOP saw coverage moved a week earlier in 2016.
In that final year of the November Nine concept, an average of 597,000 viewers watched the final table on ESPN on a 30-minute delay from October 30 to November 2. But still, the total number to tune in on the last day was by far the lowest, save 2012.
While in the United States, millions were more focused on the November 8 presidential election, only 256,000 adults in the all-important 18-49 demographic were glued to ESPN in the week prior.
Comparing Poker on TV to Sports
This year, the sports network responsible for bringing poker viewership to the masses saw a slight increase in overall viewership, but a decrease from the younger demographic. Poker can’t compete with the NBA, MLB, and NFL in terms of television ratings. But the card game remains a strong secondary programming option for ESPN, Fox Sports, and other networks.
Summer months are considered a “dead period” for sports television. The NFL and NBA, the two most popular sports in America, are in the offseason.
During the final table week this year on ESPN, the WSOP stood up against Sunday Night Baseball, the O.J. Simpson parole hearing, and the NBA Summer League.
ESPN Average Television Viewers (July 16-23)
- Sunday Night Baseball, Cubs vs. Cardinals (2,120,000)
- NBA Summer League Five-Game Average (783,000)
- WSOP Final Table (615,000)
- O.J. Simpson Parole Hearing (517,000)
So, there you have it. More sports fans care about poker than O.J. Simpson. At least on ESPN.
