The 2005 National Heads-Up Championship was such a success that Harrah’s Entertainment has decided to move it from the Golden Nugget over to Caesar’s Palace for the 2006 version..
Approximately six million viewers watched Hellmuth beat Ferguson during the event this year. The best of three final was a tense and gruelling televised game and was the accumulation of an average audience of more than four million. The NHPC was broadcast over 6 shows lasting 6 weeks which in TV terms (especially for the States) is, well, absolutely nothing. However, NBC are upping the ante ever so slightly by increasing the broadcast coverage to 10 hours for the 2006 event. The 90 minute shows are a clear indication that NBC channel executives are toying with the idea of poker being a viable audience grabber.
Heads up tournaments are, as a matter of fact, developed and produced for TV. The Poker Channel is presently broadcasting a similar event with a discovery channel in close pursuit. The Wild West shoot out format is an ideal hook for a TV audience and one that channel execs won’t want to miss out on. As the popularity and appeal of the game continue to soar, production companies are seeking ways of developing poker related shows. NBC are making it clear that they are receptive to the idea and we can assume it won’t be long before poker goes primetime.