It’s not easy to track down WSOP’s MC Jeff Platt; he’s a man on the move. But shortly after Jeff landed at the WSOP’s Palm Beach Circuit event this past week, we pinned him down.
We had questions about fans’ and the players' experiences from this past summer’s WSOP series. And, as usual, Platt graciously delivered on everything we threw at him.
We discussed everything from an exciting WSOP Main Event broadcast chase for the championship, to spectator frustrations (live and online), missed bracelet coverage (Negreanu and Hellmuth), and plans for a more customizable overall viewing experience.
Platt discussed what worked, what didn't, and what he expects to evolve or change when the summer of 2027 rolls around. He also acknowledges that while the WSOP made significant progress, plenty of work remains to be done.
The good: It got better and better as the summer progressed
Looking back on this past summer's WSOP, what part of it are you most proud of?
The best thing is we improved, if not daily, then on a weekly basis.
I thought we were so much better on June 30 than we were at the beginning of the series. What impressed me the most is how our broadcast team came together.
The Countdown Show got better; it became tighter, more efficient, and more entertaining. We picked up on what fans wanted and were able to audible a little more freely, focus on certain players, and, by the end, everything worked seamlessly.
But we still have a lot of work to do. I think you can point to the improvements from beginning to end and really highlight that.
It's a brand new relationship between PokerGo and WSOP/GGPoker. I want to keep improving and highlight more events and more players’ stories. I want to do a better job personally at storytelling.
How do you think the Main Event went?
I just thought it was f**king awesome. It just played out so well. I was just so fixated on it, entertained by it. Not just by working on it, but also as a fan. I just thoroughly enjoyed every single minute.
And our last two days on ESPN, when it had to be good, it was really, really good.
The bad: The live spectator experience
Despite the spectacular production setup, fans watching from the rails often couldn't see what was happening at the tables. What needs to change?
I'm glad you brought this up because I'm so passionate about the live event viewing experience, because I've always believed it helps everything else. If done right, the vibe and excitement in the room can be contagious.
Definitely, if you're watching on a livestream or on a television broadcast, if you have a rowdy live rail, if you have a great atmosphere, it's like if you're watching a playoff baseball game. And if that crowd is going nuts you're more invested in it, even if you aren't there.
This was something we tried to get better at because, at the beginning, it wasn't very good, and you couldn't tell what was going on at all while watching live.
What are some of the solutions being considered?
Next summer, we'll think more about monitor placement for our live-viewing fans, and for people on the rails of certain final tables or even feature tables.
We aren't quite there yet. I've talked to Spunky Hwang [Creative Director for GGPoker] about this, and he has big plans to enhance the live viewing experience in the future significantly. And that’s where you'll see our biggest step forward in 2027.
The ugly: Missing Daniel Negreanu's bracelet run
Should the WSOP have made a greater effort to broadcast Negreanu's run for his 9th bracelet?
First of all, anytime Daniel's heads-up for a bracelet, we should show it as much as we possibly can, right? Obviously, which also included Phil Hellmuth’s run for his 18th bracelet.
We have to find a way to show that, and we will in the future.
What was the main issue regarding making that a reality for fans?
The timing was weird. You know, it was Main Event time. We had already moved over to Omaha Productions and a new setup, and it just wasn't in the plans.
But to be honest, we need a plan for that. We need plans in place for a superstar making a run at a bracelet and being willing to show it at all times.
Mixed games: What happened this year?
Will fans finally get more mixed-game coverage?
As for showing mixed games more, we'll have that option more readily available in the future. I think you'll see significantly more mixed games coverage.
That should make Norman Chad happy (and that’s difficult to do). What’s the main issue there?
I invite you, Norman, or anybody, to look back at all the past livestreams in the history of the poker world. Look at NLH and PLO (which is even a 20-30% drop-off from NLH). And look at mixed games, which is an even bigger drop-off from NLH.
I say this with respect to the mixed games community because it is something that we should show. Especially when our stars like Negreanu, Helmuth, or Ivey are playing, but it's tough to show the mixed games.
That’s good to know, Jeff. But mixed-game fans will still shout the loudest for more.
I’ll say this: If you're a fan of mixed games, you are going to enjoy our WSOP coverage from here on out. Fans want mixed-game coverage, and I want to deliver it.
But when we're confronted with the decision of what to broadcast most of the time, I think it needs to be NLH, just for the sake of the game and for viewership, and more viewers will translate into more eventual players in the game.
The future: Watch the poker you want to see
You've mentioned to me in the past that WSOP broadcasts will eventually become more customizable for fans. Is that true for next summer?
Yes. I think your viewing experience at the WSOP will become much more customizable in the future.
I can't say with 100% certainty that it'll be 2027, but I know for sure that within the next two years, it will be what you want to see. You can sit back like you're on YouTube TV, and during an NFL Sunday you can click on whatever game you want to see or a couple of games at once.
I think the door will not just be opened a little bit, but it'll be kicked down in the future for the WSOP broadcasts.
Norman Chad has suggested that he be replaced by a woman on the Countdown show, which will bring another perspective to the broadcast. Are you going to be the one to tell him, "You’re fired!"
I think Norman was fantastic on that show this past summer. And you know I wouldn't deliver a compliment to Norman if I didn't mean it.
I think he fits that role really well. But I understand his point about having a woman's voice there. We at least tried to include women guests because that's really important to me and the WSOP. Long term, I think you want to see us add staples to our broadcast team who are women, in addition to Maria Ho (who was absent for much of the series after giving birth recently), Natalie Bodhi, and others.
I agree with most of what Norman said to you. I disagree when he says that we should, you know, get rid of him.
That’s very disappointing; I was hoping we could deliver the news to Norman right here and now.
We can’t replace Norman. He was fantastic on that show. We need our main character on the show, and he delivered main character energy with the segment, ’Why so mad, Norman Chad?’ Sorry to have to disappoint you, Craig.
Oh, well. But can we count on you sitting down with us soon to discuss everything going down at the upcoming WSOP Paradise events in December?
Of course. You know I love what PokerOrg does. Let’s do that.
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Additional image courtesy of the WSOP.
