ESPN will televise the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event beginning Tuesday, Aug. 14, and culminating with a virtually live (on a 15-minute delay) presentation of the Main Event Final Table on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Two new events to ESPN precede the Main Event schedule: the Big One for One Drop – a no-limit Texas Hold’em game with a $1,000,000 buy-in per player – will be presented virtually live (on a 15-minute delay) on ESPN and ESPN3, and the WSOP National Championship will air Tuesday, Aug. 7, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Lead commentator Lon McEachern and analyst Norman Chad return, along with roving reporter Kara Scott. Of the 29 poker episodes ESPN will televise in 2012, all but two (Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 8 and 9 p.m.) will air on Tuesday nights.

“Fans know Tuesday night is poker night on ESPN,” said Doug White, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “Beginning with the Big One for One Drop and the WSOP National Championship, and continuing on Tuesdays with the WSOP Main Event, we will set the stage for this intense competition and continue the excitement through the Final Table in October.”  

ESPN.com will offer blogs, podcasts and interviews with the game’s top players. Fans can follow @ESPN_Poker on Twitter for instant updates and tournament coverage.

2012 World Series of Poker on ESPN:   

**Programming presented virtually live (on a 15-minute delay)
Please note this schedule is subject to change.

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc., is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of eight 24-hour domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D and the regionally focused Longhorn Network) and five HD simulcast services (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes). Other businesses include ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (48 networks, syndication, radio, websites, mobile, apps), ESPN Radio (broadcast, satellite, online and apps, a growing category led by ScoreCenter), ESPN.com (plus a variety of sport-, college-, and market-specific sites), ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPNHS and espnW.  Multi-screen offerings include WatchESPN (access to several ESPN networks online and via an app) and ESPN3 (live multi-screen network available online, on the go and via Xbox LIVE).  Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

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