Omaha Productions deploys 50-camera cloud workflow for WSOP on ESPN

This production underscores the streaming industry’s shift toward ultra-high-volume live sports content supported by hybrid cloud-remote infrastructures. By managing 500 TB of cloud data for same-season delivery, Omaha Productions demonstrates how B2B broadcast signals can be efficiently reformatted for fragmented linear and OTT audiences without traditional post-production delays. The use of cloud-native tools to bridge the gap between niche live tracking and mainstream narrative storytelling sets a technical benchmark for non-traditional sports properties. Watch for ESPN's total reach metrics across the ESPN app versus linear telecasts for these 100+ hours of coverage.

The 2026 WSOP Main Event marks a significant return to ESPN after a hiatus starting in 2021 when primary broadcast rights moved to CBS Sports Network. Per PokerIndustryPro and CBS Sports, the 2021-2025 period focused heavily on PokerGO-led production with a more focused digital subscription model. The re-integration into ESPN follows an October 2024 development where NSUS Group, the parent company of GGPoker, acquired the World Series of Poker brand from Caesars Entertainment for $500 million. This acquisition immediately signaled a shift toward broader mainstream distribution and high-end narrative production through established sports media partners.

Omaha Productions’ lead role in this year's coverage aligns with its extensive strategic partnership with ESPN. Per Variety and ESPN Press Room, the two entities signed a nine-year multi-platform rights extension in April 2024, keeping Peyton Manning’s production house tied to Disney-owned networks through 2034. While best known for the ManningCast, Omaha is increasingly applying its personality-driven storytelling model to broader sports IP, backed by a March 2025 minority investment from Silver Lake that valued the company at over $800 million. This expansion into live poker leverages the company's existing technical familiarity with high-bandwidth, remote-capable feeds used for alternative NFL broadcasts.

Technically, the WSOP production reflects broader 2025 industry trends toward "intelligent integration" in live sports. Per EVS and SVG Europe reporting from early 2026, the transition from local hardware to hybrid cloud environments has matured, allowing broadcasters to prioritize operational flexibility. For the WSOP, this means the production can scale from six-hour early-round sessions to 10-hour daily marathons without traditional onsite hardware constraints. The emphasis on generating structured data via RFID and hole-card tracking mirrors a wider market move toward using metadata to power real-time analytics and automated highlight generation for social and fast-turnaround digital platforms.