WSOP Champion
WSOP Champion The World Series of Poker tried something new this year involving their Main Event. They waited a couple of months after the final table was set to finish the tournament. The results have paid off at least from a marketing standpoint.

Ratings on ESPN were up from previous years when they aired the Main Event finale. One of the reasons for that is the show aired on the same day when a champion was crowned. That left many viewers watching the telecast without knowing who won.

Online casinos may have been the beneficiary of the high television ratings. The players that were left at the final table were representing various online poker sites. Each time the player was shown on television, it was an advertisement for these poker sites.

"ESPN is the major sports network in the world. With their brand name being seen over and over again during the finale telecast, there is a tremendous advantage and it could lead to a jump in sign ups for these online poker sites," said analyst Bill Friedman.

Ratings for the 2008 final table telecast were up forty six percent from last year. It is clear that the marketing strategy for the WSOP paid off. The players, however, were not happy with the long layoff.

WSOP officials have said that they have not made a decision on whether they will stick with the same format for next year's Main Event.