WSOP TV schedule

Hot off the press, the air dates for this year's World Series of Poker are out.

This year, they're doing things a little ass-backwards compared to previous years. Like last year, they will be showing the WSOP Circuit events first, but then they switch gears and go directly to the main event, spread over 12 hours over six weeks.

The preliminary events won't be shown until after their main event coverage is complete, and once again it is mostly a hold'em affair. Only two episodes over the entire run are games other than hold'em -- the $10,000 Omaha championship and the new $50,000 HORSE championship. No stud, no razz, nothing but hold'em during 30 out of 32 hours of programming. There are not even any limit hold'em events planned for broadcast, although they are showing two pot-limit hold'em events.

Here's the full list:

Circuit Championships
July 18 8 p.m. Harrah's New Orleans
July 18 9 p.m. Harrah's New Orleans
July 25 8 p.m. Showboat Atlantic City
July 25 9 p.m. Bally's Las Vegas
August 1 8 p.m. Bally's Las Vegas
August 1 9 p.m. Bally's Las Vegas
August 8 8 p.m. Grand Casino Tunica
August 8 9 p.m. Grand Casino Tunica
August 15 8 p.m. Grand Casino Tunica
August 15 9 p.m. Grand Casino Tunica

World Series of Poker Main Event
August 22 8 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
August 22 9 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
August 29 8 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
August 29 9 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 5 8 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 5 9 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 12 8 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 12 9 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 19 8 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 19 9 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 26 8 p.m. Main Event/$10,000
September 26 9 p.m. Main Event/$10,000

World Series of Poker Bracelet Championships
October 3 8 p.m. No Limit Hold 'Em/$1500
October 3 9 p.m. Pot Limit Hold 'Em/$1500
October 10 8 p.m. No Limit Hold 'Em/$2500
October 10 9 p.m. No Limit Hold 'Em/$2000
October 17 8 p.m. No Limit Hold 'Em/$1000
October 17 9 p.m. Omaha/$10,000
October 24 8 p.m. No Limit Hold 'Em/$1000
October 24 9 p.m. HORSE/$50,000
October 31 8 p.m. Pot Limit Hold 'Em/$2500
October 31 9 p.m. No Limit Hold 'Em/$2000

I have to say I'm a little disappointed with the programming choices they've made. The poker universe is far more diverse than no-limit hold'em, but you wouldn't know it from this schedule.

To update you on my current dispute with an as-yet-unnamed poker site, I have still received no response to my complaint. This is really starting to piss me off, even more than I already was. If I don't get some satisfaction by Monday, I will be more than ready to start naming names.

UPDATE, 11:25 A.M.: I hadn't looked at the full press release when I got it. I just skipped to the dates and ignored the rest, but here's an interesting nugget I found when I went back for a second read:

"In addition to the regular telecast schedule, poker fans will -- for the first time ever -- have the opportunity to see the Main Event's final table live. For a suggested retail price of $24.95, poker fans can purchase for their TV screens or computers The World Series of Poker Live! -- a new pay-per-view special starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 10. The live coverage will continue until the champion is crowned."

I may need to call in sick that day.