A fresh look at poker on TV

In the ultra-competitive world of televised poker innovation is all-important. How can you stay one step ahead of the competition and translate the game on TV in a way that satisfies your target audience while bringing poker to the wider public? At Press Association Sport we have recently launched Perlego, an electronic card recognition system, which we believe will revolutionise how poker is produced and viewed on TV.

Back in 1999, when poker was making tentative steps on TV, British show Late Night Poker introduced hole cam technology. This involved under-the-table cameras that allowed viewers and commentators to see the players' cards through small transparent sections on the poker table. Production companies and broadcasters in America soon followed suit with railcam technology and the way poker was represented on TV took a giant step forward. It is inconceivable that poker's popularity on TV would be as it is now if commentators and viewers were still speculating about what cards players were holding. Poker, more so than many games or sports relies on quality, informed commentary on the myriad of strategies and possibilities that spring up each hand. Without such technology the game on TV would be akin to watching at your local casino - peeking over the rail and wondering what was going on.

We believe we have, along with card manufacturers Cartamundi, developed a product that moves card recognition to a new level. Perlego is a revolutionary automated card recognition system that will change the way poker and other card games are produced and broadcast.

It is based around bar code technology with infrared cameras taking the place of the traditional way of displaying cards in broadcast poker. A reflective, invisible-to-the-eye barcode is printed on the back of each card which is then read by our infrared cameras. For security reasons, each invisible barcode represents a 3x7 bit number with over 250,000 possible combinations.

Within the normal production rigging we use three cameras, one camera to capture the cards when they are face up and two infrared cameras above the table to capture the cards when they are face down. As the cards are dealt the cameras immediately read the barcodes and the data is sent to our interface which displays the face-up value of the cards in real time to both commentators and viewers.

All cards are recognised and stored in a database so the commentators are one step ahead of the action. The cards only have to remain in front of each player for less than a second for the cameras to read the barcodes and then the players can do exactly as they like with the cards. The players do not need to hold or look at their cards in any particular way and it reduces player inconvenience to a minimum. The win chance percentage for each hand is also calculated so viewers can instantly see where each player stands in the hand and who is favourite. A whole array of statistics are also available to add to the viewer experience.

Production values

The problem with the traditional approach of hole cams and railcams is that they are both invasive and costly. The live feel of the show can be compromised as cards are sometimes obscured or missed. Specialised equipment is often needed as well as operators and observers and this all adds to production costs.

The Perlego system not only vastly speeds up the production process but also cuts the need for specialised equipment. At Press Association Sport we can provide a complete end-to-end solution including graphic design, hardware technology, user interface and graphics generator, complete technical support and graphics operators. Any table can be used - there is no need for special tables, peephole cameras or railcams. This means the casino, broadcaster or sponsor has more table space for branding and sponsorship. We are also currently working with Cartamundi to enable additional branding on the cards.

The absence of railcams and hole cams also adds to the players' comfort. Without railcams, the rail on the table can be lowered for added comfort to the players. The look and feel of the cards also remains the same allowing the players to play their natural game. Cartamundi are one of the leading card manufacturers in the world so the playing cards are of high tournament standard.

Production time and costs can be dramatically cut due to the Perlego system capturing everything as it happens. This allows you to record the action live and produce it in real time or select key hands and apply the graphics later. Also, as all the hands, bets and plays are stored in a database the producer has the creative freedom to use and create new statistics on the screen in real time. If time is a key factor the Perlego system allows post production to become simply a cutting process.

Pushing the boundaries

The Perlego system has been in development for the last year or so. We have learned so much from all the different technologies that are out there and we have tried to incorporate all we've learned in our solution to make it the best card recognition system available. When launching a new product, particularly a cutting edge development, you only really get one chance so we tested it to death as wanted to get it absolutely perfect.

The product was launched on the recent Australian TV show, Australian Poker Hero and has proved a huge success. The show was produced live, it was commentated on live, the graphics were added live and it was cut in a day in post production. The production company, i2i Digital were delighted with the streamlined nature of the production and we're looking forward to working with them again in the future.

We are also in discussion with major sponsors, poker sites and production companies and are confident that Perlego's innovative tracking system will appeal to broadcasters and production companies alike. With its cutting edge technology to make playing card broadcasting simple, fast and cost effective the Perlego system is taking poker broadcasting to the next level.