Showing the hole cards completely transformed the TV interest.
I can recall watching professional poker on Wide World of Sports in the 1960s!
Legendary players like Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim.
But - no hole cards - so, TOTALLY boring!
First I remember seeing poker on TV was Gabe Kaplan.
Would love to see Stu Unger with a card cam. He was fearless. Would have been interesting to see also how he’d have to alter his style.