Why is chess not more popular?

I often here talk about my chess club about why is it that chess is not more popular; or atleast as popular as poker.

During the late 70's and early 80's the BBC attempted to show chess on tv.  The problem had always been that showing high quality games in full were much too slow for an audience to watch; or that quick blitz games where not of high enough quailty to air, or imposible to understand.


With the series The Master Game they took a different approach.  They would allow the players to play a high quality game and a long time control.  But would then invite the players after the game into seperate rooms to discuss their thoughts on ever move.  When edited it made the game much faster but of high quality.  If one knew the rules of the game they could understand what was happenning.

If have read that the show was very popular but cancelled none the less.  Could a show like this be brought back?  Yes.  Would enough people watch?  I'm unsure.

The famous cellist Gregor Piatigorsky one stated

Those who know the marvels of chess and wonder why this game of all games does not enjoy greater popularity may also ask why Pepsi-Cola is consumed by more people than Chateau Lafite, or the Beatles are more familiar than Beethoven.