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WSOP Critique: Media Partnerships
This is the last editorial in this series. Before I get to the main topic, I wish to briefly cover some other issues that need a bit of attention.
Reciprocity: Many cardrooms, both landbased and internet, hold satellites for the WSOP. This is a wonderful cooperative effort from the poker industry, even though these properties may be competitive with Harrah’s. So, the question is: When will Harrah’s run satellites for other major tournaments, especially events at properties that have been feeding the WSOP? And when will Harrah’s publicly acknowledge the contributions made to this event by the internet properties?
After the fact fees: Harrah’s takes a substantial amount ofmoney from each event. This amount is not taken as an entry fee. It is deducted in total from the prize pool. Nothing’s wrong with that; it is standard practice, but wouldn’t it be more forthright and honest if the percentage to be taken was stated in advance? How would you feel if there were no prices on the restaurant menu and you were only told what to pay after you finished eating. The few restaurants that do this express contempt for their patrons.
Media partnerships: The major reason the WSOP has grown from a handful of players to thousands is that it has received so much media coverage. Throughout the year the poker press gives considerable coverage to the WSOP. During the final event, the main stream media comes in to spread the word as only they can. According to observers, main stream coverage has begun to slack off in the past two years. Even some of the poker media have reduced their coverage of the WSOP. That’s bad for poker. However, it is something Harrah’s has brought upon itself.
Some “brilliant” executive at Harrah’s figured out a way to get even more money for the corporation from this event: They sold media access and coverage rights to media executives who were dumb enough to pay a big price. Those media and the Harrah’s “genius” do not understand the roll of a free press, nor the important principles behind the First Amendment to the US Constitution. The rights that were “sold” don’t really belong to Harrah’s. In a sense they belong to all members of the free press. Furthermore, I have been advised that Harrah’s may have broken FTC regulations by granting a monopoly position without first opening it up to bids.
When a business that thrives on promotion and publicity gives exclusive rights to one member of the press, they should expect that they will be slapping the rest of the media in the face. In the end this will result in the other media reducing or even eliminating their coverage. As to my colleagues who were duped into parting with their funds, I say two things.
? First, you do not understand the principles of your chosen profession. A publisher’s first duty is to protect the First Amendment. Any participation in attempting to get an exclusive arrangement is a violation of the trust the public places in you, and, will eventually come around to bite you in the butt.
? Second, you will find yourself being manipulated by whomever you paid these funds to, and you will eventually lose your credibility as being an honest journalist.
And, as an aside to this egregious behavior, when I personally heard of this arrangement, I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh at my competitor’s stupidity, or cry for the injury to the First Amendment. I would not accept exclusive press rights, even if they were offered to me free of charge.
Filed under: Poker News