Comments by user: rs2172
This article is the epitome of irresponsible journalism! Steve Freiss takes (by his own admission) "nominal" statistics and sensationalizes them to try to make an exaggerated, overarching (and, obviously, completely unfounded and untrue) statement about the state of the poker industry.
Freiss' entire argument centers around the ratings from this year's ESPN coverage of the WSOP, which for the entire 15-week season were even with last year's and for the Final Table broadcast were down fractionally from 1.9 to 1.8. The article takes these statistics to mean the end of growth in the poker world as we know it. But the analysis is flawed, riddled through with misrepresentation, missing information, and even blatant fallacy.
Firstly, Freiss communicates the statistics mentioned above, writing "Worse yet, ESPN says the 2009 ratings for the 31-telecast, 15-week season had a 1.0 share, which was even with the 2008 season." Worse yet?! The ratings matched those of last year's? There is no drop here (and even Freiss concedes that the decline in viewership for the final table was "nominal") - but there was a significant increase from 2007-2008, which now this year's broadcast has maintained. How can this be considered a failure? This year's broadcast has effectively confirmed last year's success and further established the viability of poker in the mainstream.
Worse yet, Freiss says that "Last year's ratings did show an improvement over 2007, but not a dramatic one," which is not only irresponsible journalism, it is downright untrue! Last year's ratings for the final table (which Freiss is referring to here) were up 50% - which is quite a dramatic increase indeed!
Cont'd on next post....
The article goes on to say that "virtually nobody bothered to report the outcome that actually mattered" to which I say "Are you living under a rock!?!?" The WSOP Champion, 21-year-old Joe Cada has been on a nation-wide media tour, including appearances on Letterman, Ellen, CNN, CBS Early Show, CNBC, FOX Business Network, Bloomberg TV, The E! Channel and a feature in Time Magazine - basically every major media outlet in New York and Michigan.
Not only is poker alive and well in the mainstream media, it is thriving - contrary to Freiss' assertions of a plateau. Freiss notes that since 2006's record setting WSOP turnout of 8,000+, the WSOP hasn't reached 7,000 entrants. However, Freiss conveniently omits the fact that over 500 potential runners were turned away at this year's Main Event because the tournament officials couldn't accommodate all the players - and the fact that this year's 57 WSOP events drew an increased turnout. Further, Freiss makes no mention of the economic conditions that nearly sent the global economy spiraling into a 1930s-esque depression. In the face of mounting job loss, unemployment, unprecedented stock market declines, and a housing market crisis, for the WSOP tournaments to draw as many entries as it did 2007-2009 is certainly impressive, and indicative of a robust poker interest - not only is it irresponsible to consider anything otherwise, it is just plain obtuse.
Freiss mentions as a footnote - in the second-to-last paragraph - that the WSOP is doing "fine," having reported increased total number of entrants, record setting prize pools, and expanded the brand to Europe (WSOPE). The WSOP is, I would venture to say, doing better than "fine;" the ratings this year maintained and confirmed last year's 50% increase for final table viewership, and in the face of crippling economic conditions, drew increased numbers of total entrants to WSOP events. Far from the poker growth being "over," as Freiss puts it, I think poker is still going strong.