The WSOP is leaving ESPN for CBS Sports

After 19 years the WSOP has a new broadcasting partner, could this be the end of Lon and Norman in the commentary booth?

We are still a long way off getting a schedule for the 2021 World Series of Poker but there is big news about where you can watch it. 

The WSOP was partnered with ESPN for 19 years but this year will instead broadcast with CBS Sports. The deal will see them air 15 hours of the Main Event and 18 further bracelet events for the series, which takes place in September to November.

CBS was actually the original broadcaster for the World Series of Poker in the 1970s and they have live streamed bracelet events alongside PokerGo in the last two years. It looks like PokerGo will no longer stream bracelet events either. 

Will CBS keep Lon and Norman?

“CBS Sports has long been a pioneer in covering a broad range of championship sports,” said Ty Stewart, WSOP Executive Director. “We couldn’t be more excited to see increased television coverage of the WSOP in the coming years and benefit from their growing media platforms.”

“Following our past success with Poker Central, we are excited to expand our relationship with the highest-profile and richest event in competitive tournament Poker featuring the best players in the world,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President of Programming, CBS Sports. “This deal fits perfectly in our strategy to combine best-in-class events with our CBS Sports brand.”

The big question the poker community has is what will happen to the commentary team that has made the ESPN broadcasts so special? Will Norman Chad, Lon McEachern, Kara Scott, Ali Nejad, David Tuchman, Nick Schulman and Jamie Kerstetter have a role at CBS Sports?

There are currently no details on what options viewers outside of the US will have if they want to watch these broadcasts. 

Will you miss ESPN? Let us know in the comments: