The ground breaking channel four program late night poker (LNP) had a tremendous affect on Poker in the UK. First aired in the late 1990’s the show introduced the concept of the hole card camera’s and for the first time viewers could see the tactical guile and craft of the top players.
  
The late night poker format is now quite familiar and often copied; a single table tournament with a dealer and tournament director making up the game. A large number of players I have met often quote LNP as introducing them and inspiring them to play poker. 
  
In the states the world poker tour (WPT) which took the LNP format and moved it on to the next stage has had a seismic impact on poker. Millions of Americans tune in to watch the final table of some of the biggest tournaments on the circuit and it has inspired millions and millions of people to get involved either online or at there local live venue.
  
So all in all TV has been very good for poker, it has introduced millions of new players to the game and has helped generate player sponsorships and advertising revenues which have pumped money into the game. Apart from a few over the top displays by players attempting to garner TV exposure in major events I viewed any negative affects TV has had on poker as really rather minor, then I viewed a recent episode of poker after dark, if you have not seen it enter Phil Hellmuth and Poker after dark into the search engine of You Tube.  
  
On first viewing a rather humorous and petulant display by ‘The Poker Brat’, and my first thoughts where ‘Phil’s at it again!’. Most people would agree that Phil has a point and should be allowed the required time and conditions to think through a decision but he manages to put his case in such a way that he alienates virtually everybody.
  
Then I decided to view it again and something that previously not occurred to me sprung to the fore front of my consciousness. Why is a player (Hellmuth) dealing directly with the TV producer, the much berated ‘Manny’? All of a sudden I’m viewing the whole incident from a new perspective, I’m pretty sure if the same situation would have occurred during a filming for LNP or the WPT it would have been dealt with much more effectively.
  
The WPT utilises the experienced staff of the casino and a tournament director who has been responsible from the start to end of what is a major poker tournament. LNP utilised a well established dealer team with the vastly experienced Thomas Kremser acting as TD. Most players have experienced the difference good dealers and tournament team can have on an event and a good few could tell you a horror story or two regarding badly run and dealt tournaments.
  
It can be no surprise that some players in this type of made for TV event begin to act poorly when at the wheel of the ship is a TV producer and not an experienced professional tournament director. After all it is much more in TV’s favour that entertaining situation’s occur than proper procedure and protocol is followed during the play of hands to make an effective ruling.
  
The lines are being blurred and the rules of the game being broken and millions of people will view this and accept it as the normal way to conduct themselves at the table. These poorly marshalled TV events and the incidents that occur will be viewed by millions more people than a quick and decisive ruling from a professional. These incidents are gold dust for the show in question as people around the globe share the incidents via email, forums and You Tube. Giving someone control of the tournament whose best interest might not be served by a well run professional game is a dangerous situation for the good of poker.
  
TV has been very good for poker there is little doubt about that, but it would be a worrying trend if ‘TV’ people begin to run the game. What makes good TV will rarely be good for the image of poker and who wants to play in a world full of whiners and people disrespecting other players.
Kevin Stevens is Article Editor for UKpokerinfo and content writer for UKpokernews