#30: The Evolution of Poker TV Shows and Coverage

#30: The Evolution of Poker TV Shows and Coverage

The world of poker has advanced significantly since the days of smoky backrooms and high-stakes underground games. Over the last two decades, the sport has taken the world by storm, owning in larger part to the captivating coverage we've seen on our television screens.

In this week's edition of The Gaming Grapevine, we'll take a trip down memory lane and look at the evolution of poker's media presence—from the groundbreaking shows that initially made the game popular to the latest progress that are capturing the imagination of Indian poker players nationwide.

Poker on television didn’t just make the game famous—it gave it flair, character, and drama. Shows like Poker After Dark made late-night poker feel like a high-stakes thriller. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) took it further, creating legends and turning poker players into global celebrities. With every slow-roll, bluff, and river card, millions of viewers were introduced to poker’s mind games. The WSOP 2023 Main Event (ME) was no exception—Indian pros like Nikita Luther and Anirban Das caught poker media’s attention with their stellar gameplay, showing just how far our talent has come on the world stage.

In India, this wave was perfectly timed. As online poker started growing, players wanted more than just cards—they wanted the stories, the personalities, the pressure. Watching pros go head-to-head helped beginners learn the ropes and gave experienced players a deeper love for the game. And now, poker TV is evolving again—mixing entertainment, sports, and reality to give us something fresh and exciting.

Indian Poker: Rising with the Broadcast Wave

India too benefited from the evolution of poker on television. With growing coverage and talented pros making headlines, the country is writing out its own chapter in the world of poker content. Earlier, poker commercials weren't allowed on television in India, but now the top poker players are all finding a bit of the limelight.

A) National Poker Championship (NPC)

The National Poker Championship gained heavy traction, and with live streams available on JioHotstar, the future of the poker in India looks brighter than ever. The game has come a long way in India, and media coverage has shaped its evolution. NPC brought together top talents and placed them in pressure situations against each other.

Broadcasts and live streams of the NPC helped:

• Showcase Indian talent, like Mohit Bohra, the NPC Champion of 2025.

• Build community by allowing fans across India to follow the action in real time.

• Educate and entertain new players by showing real hands, strategies, and player dynamics.

• Players like Snehil Aggarwal, Anish Vijayvergiya, Saahib Bawa, and others get their first taste of 'being famous' as such

B) The Traitors: Poker Meets Reality TV

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But the evolution of poker's media presence doesn't stop there. In a groundbreaking move, one of India's best poker players, Nikita Luther, has now taken her talents to the small screen, appearing on the popular reality show “The Traitors.” By bringing the game into the realm of reality TV, this move has the potential to introduce poker to a whole new audience, showcasing the skill, strategy, and high-stakes drama that makes the sport so captivating. Not only does Luther being a part of a show including Raj Kundra, Karan Johar, Raftaar, and others bring light to the Indian poker industry, but it also allowed her to get introduced to the 'Paps' culture in our country.

Happy Streaming!

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