This appeared in today's issue of Variety online...given the recent discussion on here I thought some of you may be interested: On Sunday the network launched the third season of the "National Heads-Up Poker Championship" smack up against CBS' broadcast of the Masters golf tournament in certain parts of the country. Numbers for the hourlong competition -- 1.7 rating with a 5 share -- were 15% higher than last year. From the same article: ESPN continues to do well with its "World Series of Poker" broadcasts as it will soon begin its fifth year of originally produced broadcasts. In 2004, 2.5 million viewers tuned in to watch Greg Raymer take the grand prize. That's the most-watched poker episode to ever air on the network.
