Should chess be a sport and put on tv?

For it to be put on TV, I think you need something very different, almost gimmicky. Like these poker professionals teaming up with chess masters to play chess today, is something that will attract a new demographic

Back in the late 70's and early 80's the BBC had a series called "The Master Game" in which GMs played and then pretended to be thinking the game through as the game was actually being replayed.  The board was shown using mechanical methods.  The last two seasons are available on DVD.
I think it's a shame we can't have a half hour of chess on the Beeb.  given the shite they put out these days a half hour a week shouldn't be too much to ask, especially with chess being so interesting these days.