Most poker fans will agree on the two major factors that contributed to the poker boom of recent years: online poker and TV poker shows. Not only has the customer base for online poker exploded in the last eight years, the sheer amount of TV poker content has also expanded. In a five-hundred-channel universe that must fill its voracious twenty-four hour programming schedule, poker shows have become nearly as omnipresent as late-night infomercials.

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Here are some of the best US-based poker TV shows:

WPT Main Show Airing on FSN at 8 p.m. On Sundays and 11 p.m. On Wednesdays, the World Poker Tour® broadcasts Main Tour events throughout the United States. Each event is broken down into three one-hour episodes, anchored by the stunning Lynn Gilmartin and commentated by Tony Dunst and Vince Van Patten. The World Poker Tour ignited the global poker boom with the creation of this unique television show based on a series of high-stakes tournaments, and has broadcast globally in over 150 countries and territories. Play poker online, anytime, anywhere. Take our software tour and check out everything partypoker has to offer, including Missions, Achievements and exciting game formats like fastforward poker. Best of all, our mobile poker.

#5: Doubles Poker Championships (Game Show Network)

GSN’s “Doubles Poker Championship” is probably the most unique poker show on TV. Instead of playing against each other, players must cooperate as duos win a four-team single-table tournament. The format presents challenges for the player beyond reading a single opponent: each player must also understand his partner’s moves, as well as both members of the opposing teams.

The fun for the viewers often comes less from the stellar poker play the pros exhibit, but the clash in personalities among these strong characters. If Phil Hellmuth is a sore loser when he only has to depend on his own ability, imagine the meltdowns he has when a teammate lets him down.

#4: Poker After Dark (NBC)

The presentation style of “Poker After Dark” comes across much more as a high-stakes home game rather than a high-pressure winner-take-all tournament. Players are often looser and more given to table talk… at least according to Phil Hellmuth. Speaking of Hellmuth blowups, the clip above shows how the “Poker Brat” starts comparing the show to the “World Wide Wrestling Federation”.

The players take the game seriously (sometimes too much) and the commentary is insightful and educational. “PAD” is without question the best poker show on any of the major broadcast networks.

#3: World Poker Tour (Fox Sports Net)

Over the last eight years, the World Poker Tour has been one of the pillars of TV poker programming. With a new tournament nearly every week, the WPT has produced more poker content than any other regular poker show. The graphics and presentation in each broadcast give the tournaments a dramatic feel, in spite of some of the corniest commentary seen this side of Norman Chad.

For the last few years, the show has been hopping networks. Starting at the Travel Channel in 2003, then moving to Game Show Network in 2007, and later to Fox Sports Net. The FSN format split each two-hour show into two one-hour episodes, making it harder to follow the action

#2: World Series of Poker (ESPN)

The familiar guitar twang of the intro has carried the “Grandaddy of them All” from the run-down rooms of Binion’s on Fremont Street all the way to the spacious Amazon Room at the Rio. ESPN’s coverage of each year’s WSOP is still the measuring stick for every other TV poker show.

Despite the ratings decline in recent years and criticisms over the commentary (“I believe they are the ‘Ramblin’ Wreck’!”), the WSOP will remain the most popular TV poker show for the foreseeable future.

#1: High Stakes Poker (Game Show Network)

Although the WSOP has the glamour and prestige, GSN’s “High Stakes Poker” has the best in-game action of any poker TV show. The main difference between “High Stakes” and the other poker shows is that it shows real cash-game action, rather than a tournament. Players will often throw bundles of hundred-dollar bills in a pot along with their chips. The visual impact of seeing a player toss in enough cash to equal six months’ salary cannot be underestimated.

Of course, for every classic TV show, there are a dozen failures. Poker shows are no exception, especially ones that try to go “behind the scenes” or tell the “real story”. I’ll cover those in the follow-up to this article.

By Gerald Hanks

Gerald Hanks is from Houston Texas, and has been playing poker since 2002. He has played cash games and no-limit hold’em tournaments at live venues all over the United States.

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Nowadays when everyone talks about poker, it is only with regards to the stuff that is available online.

Thanks to the rather huge world of the internet and handheld devices, poker is available to almost everyone and games can be played almost everywhere as well.

There was a time when people would have to read books, the actual physical ones to gain some knowledge about poker and then came the invention of the television which changed the dynamic of education as well.

Sure many people call it the idiot box but that is dependent on what you end up seeing, you could also see something that is informative and teaches your something.

Poker also was hit and is still hit by the television bug and has a lot of great shows for those who still enjoy some time in front of the tube.

We list out the best poker related television shows over the years.

These were the ones that changed the landscape of poker, at least on the television and took it to greater heights.

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The World Series of Poker

One of my personal favorites, this show had almost everything that makes for great reality television.

It had real stars taking on each other to win the huge prize money on offer at the Main Event.

Multi-million dollar wins were the norm in this television show and it still is going strong.

The World Series of Poker isn’t just a television show; it is a lifestyle for a lot of people and has quite a following even without the television broadcasts.

Tilt

A fictional show, Tilt was created by the minds in ESPN to create a drama where a poker player would trap the fish or suckers into his trap.

It is still an enjoyable show to watch and you should keep an eye out for some of the guest appearances from real life poker players in this amazing show for all.

E! Hollywood Hold’em

One for the celebrity followers out there, you often hear about some special games being played behind the closed doors of celebrity homes.

Well, this show helped people get an insight of what these games really are like.

The premise of the show was pretty good but the show lasted only for one season.

Ultimate Poker Challenge

Another show based on the popular game format, this started way back in 2005 and the premise of this was to hold a competition at the Plaza, Las Vegas for 26 straight weeks.

The game being played here was no-limit Texas Hold’em in tournament mode and is a great watch for those who want a fix of competitive poker on the tube.

The World Poker Tour

One of the most popular shows ever, this started way back in 2003 but it is still one of the best shows made in the history of poker.

The World Poker Tour was one of the highest rated shows on television at one point of time, and it followed these events at casinos and had a few more titbits with behind the scenes footage.

This show is still shown on a lot of other channels, so keep your eyes peeled for this show.

High Stakes Poker

This show started in 2006 and had a very different premise compared to most poker shows on television.

This did feature some of the biggest names in poker who played the game using their own money!

The buy-ins were huge as well and the poker variations were different too, certainly leading to interesting viewing compared to some of the other poker shows on television.

Celebrity Poker Showdown

This show was another reason why poker became extremely popular on television.

This had many celebrities coming onto the show and having a go in the game of poker.

This might not have had the best style of poker or best poker games but it was one of the most fun shows to watch and there is a lot of humour involved as well.

Something a little different to what we normally see in other more serious poker related titles.

WPT Gardens Poker Championship (1 Of 4)

Poker Royale

This has two groups of players having a go at each other.

Every time new groups play against each other to find out who is better.

Boys vs. Girls is one such example of the battles and you could even get to see some celebrities take on professional poker players, which always provides some great and fun viewing.

Poker Tv Tropes

Poker Superstars

Yet another poker tournament or competition where you have the pros taking on each other.

The game is fast and brilliant and the action is relentless.

In fact the game has such a great speed that many people think this is similar to actually playing the game online!

These are just some of the shows which have taken poker to a new height.

Of course most of these shows are not broadcast anymore but they can be found almost anywhere, thanks to the internet.

See Full List On Worldpokertour.com

There are many new shows available as well which makes for great viewing but the plight of the television might be on a slow growth curve.

Everyone now can watch whatever they want on the handheld device and there are a ton of apps and videos available online for people to enjoy.

Poker Tv Shows

The television might have lost its importance in the entertainment rank for people but poker continues to have a great place for most people and more shows are being created and broadcast to keep everyone hooked onto this wonderful game called poker.