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chess on TV!?

chess on TV!?

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g
NSB

Ohio

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I don't see why not. darts, hotdog eating and rock paper scissors have been on tv. why not chess on ESPN? Or TBS?

k

washington

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chess takes to long and nobody would watch it ne ways come on sports fans not many of them think chess si fun

F

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Originally posted by giantsfan94707
I don't see why not. darts, hotdog eating and rock paper scissors have been on tv. why not chess on ESPN? Or TBS?
Some years ago we had a chess program in Swedish TV with Ulf Andersson as conferencier. Very good, very interesting.
Good commenting all the way from beginners level up to experts level.

cg

Seattle

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Originally posted by giantsfan94707
I don't see why not. darts, hotdog eating and rock paper scissors have been on tv. why not chess on ESPN? Or TBS?
They actually do on ESPN, back during Kasprov vs Deep Blue my dad remembers it on. I have also seen a few World Championship matches on there, but your right, they are too few and far between.

G

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Chess is fun to play not to watch others play.

F

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Originally posted by Gorgar
Chess is fun to play not to watch others play.
With good comments it's a lot of fun to see others play.

c

USA

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Yeah, I would love to watch chess on tv if they had a strong player commenting on the game who also is an entertaining speaker, like Maurice Ashley or Yasser Seirawan.

G
ChessObsessed

Earth

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Originally posted by giantsfan94707
I don't see why not. darts, hotdog eating and rock paper scissors have been on tv. why not chess on ESPN? Or TBS?
Chess is better suited for the web. TV is mindless dribble.
If the TV execs could make $$ with chess, it would be on the tube as much as poker is.
Because of the need to analyze, and think about the position, chess would be too long and time consuming for TV.
Maybe a Blitz tourney, like the one on the Seirawan DVD, where he beats up on GM Rohde, in a 5min tourney.
That was entertaining.

RN
RHP Prophet

pursuing happiness

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Originally posted by giantsfan94707
I don't see why not. darts, hotdog eating and rock paper scissors have been on tv. why not chess on ESPN? Or TBS?
The other day they had the World Dominos Championship on ESPN.

b

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The responses to this thread seem to suggest that virtually no countries have regular chess on TV, which is really sad.

TV Chess can be as gripping, entertaining and easy to follow as any other sport. All it needs is a couple of commentators who are not just strong chess players but able to communicate to the most casual chess player what is going on, and make it interesting. Shorter time limits also help make it entertaining as you get the excitement of a time scramble. A number of years back the BBC screened a made-for-TV tournament which combined these two elements, and I know people who would not consider themselves chess players who loved it. Among other things, it would be a great way of encouraging young people to take up chess.

Anyone else got any positive examples ?

DC
The Mighty

Rocky Mountains

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They do have it. It comes on after "Grass Grows" and "Paint Dries".

TheGambit

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They showed Nigel Short vs. Kasparov on Channel, unfortunately I was too young to appreciate it. In the main though I don't think you'll be seeing any chess on tv anytime soon, there just isn't the money in it or the audience.

j

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I believe in Korea there is an entire channel devoted to nothing but Go.

b
woodpusher

midwest USA

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Live chess is difficult to hold an audience. If they show a game or games that have already been played they could edit the show. Leave some time between moves when the game was interesting or the commentators had something to say. Alot of the shows involving poker are edited and you only see some of the hands. Could work with chess.

d

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Originally posted by Grandmouster
Chess is better suited for the web. TV is mindless dribble.
Quite apart from the amount of mindless "dribble" on the web, such a sweeping statement just makes you look stupid.

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