This is a discussion on Yes, poker IS a sport. Within the online poker forums, in the General Poker section; If there was still any doubt about poker be considered a sport or not, today we had a. Feb 06, 2009. Archery is a sport, because it requires good aim, and, depending on what bow you use, it requires strength. Wrestling is a sport, because it requires strength. Bowling is a sport, because it requires hand-eye coordination. Dancing is a sport, because it requires strength, endurance and agility.
| The Player Channel | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 23 March 2005 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Broadcast area | Europe |
| Website | ThePlayerChannel.com |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital (UK, Ireland) | Channel 166 (Information TV - 21:30 to 04:00) |
| Canal Digital (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) | Channel 94 |
| Cable | |
| UPC Netherlands | Channel 127 |
| Numericable (France) | Channel 95 |
| Cabovisão (Portugal) | Channel 72 |
| UPC Poland | Channel 523 |
| Elsat Poland | Channel 234 |
| IPTV | |
| Freebox TV (France) | Channel 145 |
| Orange | Mobile |
| Movistar TV (Spain) | Channel 98 |
| meo (Portugal) | Channel 77 |
| Streaming media | |
| Zattoo | PCE Zattoo |
The Player Channel, known as the Poker Channel until 3 December 2012, is a gaming TV network which broadcast to over 30 million households in 30 countries.[1]
The Channel was typically carried in the basic packages of cable and satellite operators in Europe and classified as a sport or entertainment channel in electronic programme guides (EPGs). It broadcast 24 hours a day in all Continental Europe countries and 6.5 hours a day in the UK and Ireland on Sky Channel 166, in the entertainment section, adjacent to FX in the Sky EPG.
The Poker Channel was launched in the UK in March 2005 and broadcast poker programming including major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, instructional series, online events, documentaries, news and player profiles.
History[edit]
The Poker Channel was formed in 2005 by Crispin Nieboer, ex Commercial Manager at British Sky Broadcasting, who conceived the idea and pitched it originally to BSkyB (who turned it down, but ultimately launched their own dedicated poker channel in 2007[2][circular reference]). Nieboer raised the funding of £1.75m from Party Poker and two private investors and brought in James Hopkins, Sky Sports' producer of rugby and poker as a partner and shareholder. Hopkins was involved in the success of the first live poker tournament on television, The Poker Million, in 2000. The Channel recruited Chris White, ex Freemantle executive, as Commercial Director in 2006 to expand the company into European, Asian and Latin American markets.
The channel was first broadcast in the UK in March 2005 on channel number 265.[3] Following an EPG re-structure by Sky in April 2006 the channel was moved to channel number 844 in Sky's new 'Gaming and Dating' section.[4] The move resulted in a loss in viewing figures. In an attempt to regain viewing figures The Poker Channel rebranded itself as All in Sport in August 2006 and added some sports related programming. The rebranding resulted in a move to channel 444 in the Sports section of the Sky EPG. Due to Sky's broadcasting rules the channel was only able to broadcast poker programming for 4 to 6 hours a day.
On 31 December 2006 the channel decided to cease broadcasting as a 24-hour channel on Sky in the UK, due to Sky's EPG re-structure and limitations on poker programming broadcast hours, and started a long-term partnership with Sky Channel 166 (Info TV Ltd) to broadcast poker programming in a late evening slot, where the Poker Channel broadcast between 9.30pm and 4am. On 1 March 2007, to capitalise on the popularity of poker in Europe, The Poker Channel launched as a free-to-air channel on cable platforms in France (Free and Numericable) and Germany (Kabel BW), and in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark on DTH satellite platform, Canal Digital.
In late 2007, The Poker Channel increased distribution in Germany (Kabel Deutschland and Unity Media) and launched with cable platforms in Belgium (BeTV and Coditel), Luxembourg (Coditel), Iceland (Skjarinn), Malta (Melita Cable) and Spain (Movistar TV). In 2008, the Channel expanded its footprint further in Finland (Welho, Maxinetti) and launched in the Netherlands, on KPN and in the digital basic package of UPC, adjacent to Eurosport in UPC's EPG, as well as in Greece (OnTelecom) and on the online TV service, Zattoo, in various European countries including Switzerland.
Valcouroceras Is Classified As A
In 2007, the channel also extended its presence online, setting up content and marketing partnerships with online video sites including YouTube, Dailymotion, Zattoo and Blinkx.
In September 2008 The Poker Channel re-launched their web site, PokerChannelEurope.com, in partnership with online video platform Brightcove. The partnership facilitates the delivery of free advertising-supported video content on poker. The Poker Channel recruited Paul Sandells in July 2008, former UK.PokerNews.com editor, as Editor in Chief of the site.
In 2009 and 2010 the Poker Channel continued to expand its availability in Europe, including launches on all cable platforms in Portugal (Zon, Meo, Cabovisao); Neufbox (SFR) in France; Austria Telekom, Vectra and UPC in Poland, and making the channel available to all subscribers of Focussat, DigiTV and UPC Direct in Eastern Europe in Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia.
In 2010 Poker Channel partnered with media companies in Latin America to launch in Spanish language in Argentina and Mexico.
On 3 December 2012, the Poker Channel was rebranded as the Player Channel.[5] as it increased the level of sports-betting programming on the channel including a weekly sports-betting tipping show (Best of Bets[6]).
In October 2013, the Player Channel was acquired by leading e-sports channel Ginx TV.[7]
Programming[edit]
The Poker Channel broadcast a range of poker related programmes acquired from around the world such as the World Series of Poker, the World Series of Poker Europe, the Aussie Millions, the Irish Open, the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, the Great British Poker Tour, Poker Island TV, the World Series of Backgammon, the Million Dollar Cash Game, the Poker Nations Cup, the World Poker Crown, The World Heads-up Championship and the World Poker Tour. The Poker Channel has also commissioned or produced poker programmes such as the PokerHeaven.com European Cash Game which featured WSOP 2008 winner Peter Eastgate, the British Poker Open, Cash Game Master Class, live broadcasts of online tournaments, 12 Steps to Poker Heaven, and the European Poker Masters. With the rebrand, casino and trading shows were also added.[8] All this programming was dropped in favour of video game programming when the channel was acquired by Ginx TV.[7]
The channel also had a three-hour overnight slot on CNBC Europe which broadcast six nights a week for several years across Europe, and held partnerships with other international sports and entertainment broadcasters such as TVC Deportes in Mexico.
References[edit]
- ^'iGaming Business'. iGaming Business.
- ^Sky Betting & Gaming
- ^Shelley, Darren (14 February 2005). 'Poker Channel to launch on Sky'. Digital Spy.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Poker Channel is Rebranded to the Player Channel
- ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZvRK2qpTg
- ^ ab'Gynx TV acquires The Player Channel'. CIOL. CIOL. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^The Player Channel
External links[edit]
- Archive index at the Wayback Machine
No, chess is not a sport Dictionary.com defines 'sport' as, 'anathleticactivityrequiringskillorphysicalprowessandoftenofacompetitivenature.' As the basis of chess competition is not athletic, most persons do not define chess as a sport.
However, chess is LIKE a sport in many ways! Here are ten:
1. Chess is physically demanding.
Chess players do not compete based on athletic prowess, but it is essential for elite chess players to be in excellent physical shape. Games between elite players often last 7, 8, or even 9 hours. The slightest mistake means instant defeat if a player's concentration lapses. Here is World Champion Bobby Fischer discussing fitness prior to his world championship match with Boris Spassky.
Is Poker Classed As A Sport
2. Chess is competitive.
Anyone who has played a chess game has felt the drive to win. The experience of sitting across the board from a fierce opponent as your clock ticks down and the game becomes more complex is as tense an experience as there is. Here is a nail-biting finale between World Champion Magnus Carlsen and his fierce rival, Levon Aronian.
3. Chess demands skill.
Elite chess players spend a lifetime honing their craft, practicing openings, studying endgames, solving studies, and much more. The regimen of a professional chess player is every bit as demanding as that of a professional athlete.
When they're eating, I'm working, when they're working, I'm working...when they're sleeping, I'm working- @GMCantyhttps://t.co/xMu6qdk6Cxpic.twitter.com/hdWEQ6H8pN
— US Chess (@USChess) June 24, 20174. Chess players practice sportsmanship.
Etiquette is extremely important in chess. Before and after every chess game, players are required to shake hands. Regardless of result, it is traditional to wish your opponent good luck before the game and to thank them for the game afterwards.
Etiquette in chess derives from a deep respect for your opponent, for their ideas, and for the fact that a brilliant game requires a worthy opponent.
Even minor breaches of etiquette can induce severe penalties such as when GM Ivan Cheparinov refused to shake GM Nigel Short's hand and was thereafter forfeited.
5. Chess is recognized as a sport.
The International Olympic Committee has recognized chess as a sport. While this acknowledgement falls shy of recognition as an 'Olympic Sport' which would merit inclusion in the Games, it is an acknowledgement of the sport-like properties inherent in chess.
6. Chess is universal.
Chess is played by roughly 600,000,000 people around the world. It's ubiquity serves as a commonality between people of different languages, cultures, and backgrounds allowing an international communication and comradery often associated with sport.
7. Chess is a mind sport.
According to Wikipedia, 'A mind sport is a game of skill where the mental exercise component is more significant than the physical.' Chess is a challenge of the mind, but it also challenges the mind, pushing humans to new intellectual feats, and developing critical thinking and problem solving skills.
8. Chess inspires national fervor.
Perhaps the peak of sporting pleasure is witnessing your countrymen and women compete for national glory in the Olympics or the World Cup. Chess has similarly fueled people's national imaginations such as when Bobby Fischer challenged Boris Spassky for the World Championship in 1972. At the height of the Cold War, this competition between an American and a Soviet player was watched by millions around the world inspiring (in the U.S.A.) Fischer-mania.
9. Chess has doping controls.
Like most major sports, chess players in major events are tested for substances that may provide them a competitive advantage. It is debatable if any substances could aid a player. Instead, chess players are much more concerned about cheating via computer assistance.
10. Giant. Bullet. Chess.
This is definitely a sport
Itching to play a game? Start one now at Chess.com!