How to Play Poker Videos - why is world series of poker on espn?

why is world series of poker on espn?

Is poker really a sport? And why does espn waste time airing it?

theres nothing else on, so they still make money from showing poker, and yes its a sport
It is entertainment, not sport, and the network is trying to fill the dead time when they run out of real sports. It is exactly waste time, with waste shows, sort of like watching guys carry refrigerators up the driveway.
First, the WSOP has always been on ESPN, however it was only shown during the wee hours of the morning to fill time. The reason the WSOP is on ESPN during prime-time is due to the NHL player walkout in 2003. ESPN had the rights to televise much of the NHL season, and when the collective bargaining broke down in 2003, there were no games to televise. ESPN filled the time with video they had shot from the WSOP, and apparently ratings skyrocketed. Before long it was all over ESPN, and the NHL had moved to the Food Channel.