PokerStars TV Returns to the US: Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open to be Live Streamed PokerStars TV Returns to the US: Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open to be Live Streamed
Key Takeaways
  • The final tables of the $10 million guaranteed Main Event and the $100k buy in High Roller will be live streamed on PokerStars.tv.
  • A broadcast delay—probably 45 minutes—will allow hole cards to be shown. The commentators will be working with the same delay—seeing exactly what the live stream audience sees.
  • The last time PokerStars live streamed a US tournament was in 2010.

PokerStars’ involvement with the Florida Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open has moved up a gear.

The final tables of the $10 million guaranteed Main Event and the $100k buy in High Roller will be live streamed on PokerStars.tv.

A broadcast delay—probably 45 minutes—will allow hole cards to be shown. The commentators will be working with the same delay—seeing exactly what the live stream audience sees. This technique allows real time responses to social media tweets and questions.

Guest commentators and promotions are also likely to form part of the coverage and apps for Android and iOS devices mean that live stream is fully configured for mobile users.

The announcement was made during the PokerStars EPT Barcelona coverage. The last time PokerStars live streamed a US tournament was in 2010.

The North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Mohegan Sun Main Event also marked the debut of Joe Stapleton as a commentator for PokerStars.

Alerting the US to the PokerStars Brand

The brand involvement with the event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Forida, began with the announcement that players could buy in to the Main Event directly from their PokerStars accounts.

Amaya CEO David Baazov then told investors that this “sponsorship” was a theme the company planned to follow—both to expose the brand in the US in advance of offering state regulated online poker, and to generate revenues from exploiting the PokerStars brand.