I always find these specialty channels to be too specialized for my liking (New York Yankees TV comes to mind), but the Golf Channel apparently does very well nowadays, as do other channels that are narrowly focused on certain topics.
Anyway, we've all read the stories about how the WPT and WSOP are bringing in huge ratings for the Travel Channel and ESPN, respectively, not to mention all of the popular virtual infomercials that run on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel at other times ("Secrets of Vegas Buffets", "Showgirls Backstage" etc etc), so I doubt this business plan is hopeless and I am sure DirecTV will pick it up eventually and I'll be able to see for myself.
Random thoughts from a lawyer, an accountant, a commodities trader, an ex-Marine and a WSOP Main Event money finisher that don't know as much as they wish they did...