blonde poker forum

Not sure if anyone saw last night, but pokerstars are running a new show called the 'cage' or something.

I'm just wondering where and when (if) Vicky Coren's EPT San remo is gonna be shown? My friend told me other week she was watching an ept show and it said they weren't showing it? I just cannot believe this information is true surely?

The show last night was the most boring out of date relevance I have ever had the torture of watching... terrible move by stars imo. Are they really that desperate ?

I think they decide before hand which tournaments will be televised and which won't. A few weeks back they showed Vicky Coren winning it in a brief clip so I severely doubt they'll show the whole tournament highlights

Yeah that's what my friend said too. If this is the case then shame on you Stars, shame on you.

Even my friend and his friends who have no idea of how to play poker but read the guardian religiously and telegraph etc knew of Vicky's win and of her 1st ept too.

I'm sure if it was mike Mcdonald or someone like that it would be shown. Just lol tbh

Obviously a gamble by Stars if they select some to televise and others not to.  They missed out big time if that's the case with Vicky's win, as she certainly transcends the game in a way very few others do.

Nonsense, they decide before the tournament starts which they televise and which they don't. They ran seriously bad that VCMs win was one of the stops they didn't televise as it would've made cracking television and they've been running the "first two time champ" story throughout the shows so they'll be gutted they can't show it.

So you think this cage programme is better than any of the ept stops? If you are trying to show how amateur players can win a huge sum of money from a small entry then surely stick with the online qualifiers who have been getting in for cheap?... mix that up with good professionals that show some personality at the table and poker looks very enticing no?

And before anyone starts it's got nothing to do with the fact she's a woman. I personally feel she is one of the best ambassadors for poker. Her personality and wit is a cut above 98% of the other pros imo.

I think the sharkcage shows have been introduced to entice new players into taking up the game and sign up to pokerstars. Most of the televised events tend to show a lot of serious faces with their headphones on and hoods up, whereas the sharkcage is a new, fun concept, which may attract new customers. Can completely understand why they've done it, even though they will be massively tilted they missed out on showing Vicky's second EPT win

Did you actually read what Alex and baldock posted?

Yes I'm just asking Alex's views on what he thinks about the concept ?
And also Imo of course I think they can find better ways of promoting online poker/pokerstars live events etc.

I think it was a shame that they dropped the UKIPT from their televised tournaments.  It showed the 'grass-roots' players getting involved in decent prize money - an accessible EPT really.  However, the cost for televising these events isn't insignificant and I guess they want a direct return on this investment (in terms of new customer signups and deposits, etc.).

I certainly think there's a greater ROI on many things they do (or could do) compared to sponsoring pros who no one outside the game has any clue who they are. 

I was discussing this with someone else an hour or so ago, saying the UKIPT's with a final table of drunk irishmen and characters like Sam Razavi were the way forward

I definitely think it's a huge shame they stopped filming the UKIPTs. But they are ridiculously expensive to make, Channel 4 stick them on about 2am and everyone who is watching probably already has a PokerStars account. A tough ROI sell I would have thought.

I would imagine showing a final table EPT nowadays isn't very productive at all to signing up people who have never played poker.  The poker cage, imo, although being cheesy, is much more likely to appeal to the casual types who have never played poker before online to encourage them to sign up.  Players like VCM winning EPT's is priceless though.  Stars must truely be gutted they didn't send a film crew to cover that EPT.  Like Alex says though all the planning for TV is done in advance and they can't plan once the attractiveness of the winner is done.

Completely agree with this.

How does anyone know that it is planned in advance ?

It has to be planned in advance to get the TV crew/equipment/staff there and the tv feature table.  They are not going to just randomly send all that out on day 3 because some 'suitable' faces like VCM have gone deep.

Last week's IPO Dublin would have been perfect - with Andy Black wrecked at 4pm.

For example the Deauville stop is never filmed for the interesting reason that the TV set is still being shipped from the Caribbean from the PCA so doesn't make it back to Europe in time!

@Drennie, I can't really give my thoughts on the shark cage as I haven't seen it. I know any show with Sam Grafton in is bound to promote poker in a great way and I can't wait to see it. Also I think Pokerstars get just about everything spot on, marketing and TV included. I think the EPT shows are first class.

I think one of the best ways to market the game would be to have tables for recreational players, there are too many pools with sharks in the water. 

I think that's what puts new players off, also think it might help to have decent commentators on the tv shows who can explain the dynamics of the game and maybe even do some tv shows with complete noobs. 

Sky Poker seem to have it  just about right and although I don't play on the site if I were to play any online poker these days that would probably be my home for online poker.  But the traffic in the games I prefer to pay doesnt look too great. 

Yeah Stars were gutted that VCM wasn't a TV event but is just logistics.  The background stuff that goes into the EPT shows are huge and this was just bad luck.

I'd love to be on shark cage, it looks so fun!

Anything with Phil Laak in is good TV

People are happy to play with 'pros'. Just not happy when there are constant delays due to multitabling imo

Think people are happy to play the "names" rather than pro grinders.  I probably 3 table at best and hate when the game is slowed down by some guy playing 12 tables or some such. 

Late Night Poker was such a good format back in the day. Created so many heroes really did.

Definitely agree with the Phil Laak part! Such an entertaining character, I wish there were more players like him around- there's nothing worse than being sat at a sullen, quiet table.

The way old matey boy called off 2 streets for a gutshot and missed was awesome on his first hand ,I thought yup there's a poker stars player online he'd have got there

What is the shark cage??

link???

if link is allowed of course

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/pokerstarscom/4od

It's snappily called Series 5 Episode 28

On this ridic show ,if you're going to bluff you press a button under the table ,if the other player doesn't call
 in this tank they go for 5 mins or one orbit
It was all pretty pathetic tbh

Hi,

There are two separate issues being discussed in this thread, and I would like to address both. As someone who's worked on the EPT since 2006, and was heavily involved in the development and production of Shark Cage, I can provide an insider's perspective. But please don't consider the following to be the official "PokerStars line."

1) Victoria Coren Mitchell's win in Sanremo

Alex and Ryan are correct: we plan our TV coverage well in advance of the events taking place. It was never going to be possible to televise Sanremo. At the point the final table was being played, the TV set was being rigged in Monte Carlo for the EPT Grand Final.

It was incredibly unfortunate that the crowning of the European Poker Tour's first ever two-time champion occurred at a non-televised event. It was frustrating and annoying for the TV production team, as we've been building the "two time curse" storyline for several years. It's disappointing, for the programme-makers and TV viewers alike, not to be able to resolve this narrative thread.

One silver lining: the tournament was streamed live, and the replay of the final table has been archived online, so fans can still watch Vicky's amazing achievement, complete with my inane shouting over the last hand.

2) Shark Cage

I'm not surprised the first episode has been met with a certain degree of disdain from hardcore poker fans. Shark Cage is designed for a more casual/mainstream audience; it's clearly not a pure poker show.

The first thing to say is that we're not moving away from making pure poker shows! We think it's very important to provide entertaining and engaging content for the poker community. In 2014, PokerStars has invested a great deal of money into live streaming every single leg of the European Poker Tour. In addition, we’ve produced 38 hours of TV coverage from the EPT and PCA. In the first half of 2015, viewers on Channel 4 can look forward to highlights from the EPT 10 Grand Final, EPT 11 Barcelona, EPT 11 London and the 2015 PCA.

Now, in addition to appealing to existing players, it's also our objective to attract NEW players to the game. Shark Cage is obviously built for a non poker-savvy audience: people who don’t necessarily play online, and certainly don't post on 2p2. We know, from research and experience, that a winner-takes-all STT (which starts and concludes in the same episode) is the easiest type of game for a beginner to follow. We also know that these viewers appreciate seeing sports stars and celebrities at the table, and are also likely to appreciate a format that’s closer to a game show than a poker tournament. Anyone remember The Million Dollar Challenge? It’s not as revered as High Stakes Poker (understatement of the year), but it was a huge success.

We think it’s important to experiment and try new things. Our ambition with Shark Cage was to create something different; something less serious than the EPT/PCA. The end result is more of an entertainment show than a poker show, with a strong focus on the personalities and table banter. Personally, I think it’s a great advertisement for the game, because it shows people having fun playing poker, while competing for life-changing prize money. Everyone who took part in the first series thoroughly enjoyed the experience, expressing their appreciation for the shot clock and cage concept (conceived by Ike Haxton).

In an ideal world, I'd like to see Shark Cage broadcast in a different slot to the EPT, either earlier in the evening, or on another day of the week. It would be great to run the series alongside the EPT episodes, so that our core audience doesn’t feel deprived of their weekly poker fix. I really hope we can change this going forward.

Couple of specific things... In the first two heats, the players had buttons under the table (one for ‘Bluff' and one for 'Value Bet'). For the remaining six heats, the buttons were replaced by Bluff/Value cards. These worked much better. Also, we chose to simplify the graphics for this series, removing table positions and stack sizes to avoid bombarding viewers with too much information. Moving forward, this is something we can review.

In summary, I appreciate Shark Cage isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I’m pleased that many poker fans have enjoyed the first episode, describing it as “fun” and refreshing.” We value all feedback, positive and negative. I just hope that the show’s biggest detractors understand its purpose and possibly give it another chance.

James.

Very nice post there James, I for one (having watched the first episode of "The Shark Cage" today) thought it was a fantastic innovation. Loads of fun, all the players seemed to enjoy it and it made for entertaining viewing. Hard core poker fans already have loads of shows about that they can watch, lets let everyone have some fun for once?

Totally agree with Matt. Great for getting new people into poker. A onine Qualifireee! who is in for nothing, as mentioned a couple of times, world famous actor and a couple of poker personalities advertises poker as a really fun social game that anyone can do. I enjoyed it, although i do have a crush on Phil Laak. Looking forward to next week. People not think that if a qualifier actually won it, there could be another mini poker boom?

shark cage is/was a good idea, but they probably put up the weakest line up first, boring pros who dont offer much.

i think it will get better as the legs advance and perhaps there was no other option but to have this one first.

Did the pros buy in or just given a 1m free roll?

freeroll i think, guys who made it through to the final were selling at some deece mus!!

wasn't it all supposed to be anonymous? do ppl know who won already? i was wondering how they could stay quiet. Say Grafton won a million and had to keep quiet for months, don't think he could manage it lol.

yeh im not going to say but its semi common knowledge i guess

Must be sad to be big tits tilly and lark etc to know you cant make it at the top level of the game anymore but you will get invited to the 'mug' shows for a freeroll for $1m if you act and play like a mug to appeal to the masses 'mugs'.  Toasty life.  Like being a boxer who takes a dive for money when he fights the real pros.  Why would Phil laak attract ' total new casuals' to play poker?  Why would they know who he was any more than they would know who Pleno/arbboy/redarmi and dubai are sitting playing a random stt for $1m?  Why do they choose laak if the game is designed to attract total newbies to the game?

yeh felt like laak was overdoing it and just not funny tbh

i have heard some pretty unsavoury shit about laak from his early days in NYC from dealers in vegas who played with him/dealt the illegal games from way back in the day.  He sounds a like a total ***** who just plays up to the cameras for his own gains now the game is massive.  He makes Blatch sound like a good payer compared to the stories i have heard.

I appreciate you taking the time out to write an explanation in more detail as to what the aim was by airing this show.

I echo the others sentiments in terms of bringing in some pros with better personalities, I mean a couple of them hardly said a word on there (some guy in party poker logo) which doesn't show me that poker can be 'fun' if I was looking at it from a 'newbie 's' perspective.

I'm sure like pleno has said there will be bigger and better characters to promote the TV show as the series progresses.

I would agree that you should air it at a reasonable time I:E a 9:30pm slot for example. If you haven't played before then I doubt you are cruising the TV channels at midnight whilst working a 9-5 job...

Late night poker was the show that I started to watch that gave me an interest into what poker was all about and also there was another show which was a bit more light hearted but forgot the name of it.

The main thing I felt was wrong with this was that it looked far too staged and just made uncomfortable and boring viewing. Whenever I watch poker I try to look from a different angle. I remember Vicky getting a lot of stick for her commentary for example, however I think you need that sort of personality to come across when presenting and she explains it better than most when speaking to a wide audience at different levels imo.

You and Joe are good for that too, you more than Joe imo as he can often come across quite rude but I guess that's just his personality.

Personally I would love the UKIPT coverage to come back to our TV screens, I understand it may not be cost effective and actually have no idea of how much the total costs to film such events cost so obviously can't comment on that side, but I think the stories that come out of these tours are very good for poker and can promote it to a lot of the grass root players and also to people that are interested in getting into poker.

Defiantly think you should focus more on who qualifies in to these events from next to nothing rather than just all the regular players that play the tour, as the blogging and coverage is imo a great way of marketing the brand and getting new players signed up.

Getting women enticed into the game of poker is all about choosing the right people again, I don't think Jennifer T or Vanessa Rousso do a great deal in promoting it other than what there body parts have to offer so I would be more inclined to go with women players such as Vanessa, Vicky, Fatimo De melo all of which I think are very good players, but also have good personalities and I would imagine very fun to be around at the tables....

All of this is just my opinion ofc.

What was with Alexander's qq "bluff" too?!

Weirdest thing I've seen since Imalucksack AJo 4bf!

Seriously tho, wtf at that hand.

The only issue I would raise with Shark Cage is the format of the poker itself. Why play an essentially dead format of the game to try and get people to play online?

In say 2004/5 EVERYONE played SNGs. They were fun. People chatted during them, the vast majority of people hadn't figured out perfect strategy yet and they were a perfect way to get into the game. You saw them on telly, you played a few online, you got into poker.

Now? Someone playing a few SNGs on Stars will likely think it's the worst game in the world and never come back.

Why not use a format of the game that reflects the modern poker game? Why not just make it a cash game instead of trying to recreate the magic of poker's early days? The constant "reinvention" of the televised SNG just feels so tired to me, even when, as in the case of Shark Cage, so much energy and imagination has been placed into it. It still just feels like a new coat of paint on a very old car.

Just IMO of course.

This shows just getting better and better.

Fantastic so many good characters have been involved - which has really made the show.

Wonder if it's resulted in any new folk signing up to the site.

The first 10 minutes of this episode - some of the best poker on TV I've ever seen!

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPEC8v4uj-k

Miss Finlands all in on the first hand = pretty amazing play