- Esports has historically been an online product
- But as the industry grows, TV is getting in on the action
eSports has historically been an online product. But as the industry grows, TV is getting in on the action.
There are now more places to view competitive gaming than ever before. eSports on TV is becoming more prevalent, and many networks are vying to be the go-to eSports TV channel.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular places for eSports broadcasting and eSports streaming.
eSport Live Streaming Online
Twitch
Twitch is one of the leading online services for streaming and watching digital video broadcasts. Founded in 2011, it originally focused almost entirely on video games but since has expanded to include streams dedicated to artwork creation, music, talk shows, and the occasional TV series.
After Amazon’s acquisition in 2014, Twitch remains one of the highest sources of internet traffic in North America with more than two million unique streamers every month.
Twitch streams can be viewed on the official Twitch website or on one of the many official Twitch apps that are available for iOS and Android devices, Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles, Sony’s PlayStation 3 and 4, Amazon’s Fire TV, Google Chromecast, and the NVIDIA Shield. Watching broadcasts and videos on Twitch is completely free and doesn’t require viewers to login.
YouTube
Billions of hours of eSports and gaming content watched per month places YouTube at the top of the list of main sources of video consumption. Of their list of Top 10 All-Time Video Games, four of the ten – League of Legends, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and FIFA – are considered eSports. The popularity of live streaming on sites such as MLG or Twitch has not affected YouTube’s growth in gaming video consumption. YouTube landed two exclusive deals with popular Counter-Strike leagues – ESL Pro League and the eSports Championship Series.
MLG.tv
Major League Gaming is one of the fastest growing digital networks (especially in eSports) as it continues to pioneer the competitive gaming industry. MLG.tv is the free to watch, ad-sponsored, premium video streaming platform built to showcase eSports. MLG is the longest-running league in North America and broadcasts its own large-scale Championship events, competition from the MLG.tv Columbus Arena, online competition such as MLG’s Pro-League, and flagship events like the MLG X Games Invitational.
Some of the top leagues, players, and teams have dedicated MLG.tv streaming channels including Gfinity (UK), ACL Pro (AUS), UMG (US) and teams such as OpTic Gaming. It allows viewers to watch at any time with options to interact with MLG.tv personalities on a new level, and allows users to chat through their MLG account usernames.
eSports Live on TV
ESPN
Melia Robinson
The network broadcasted exclusive live coverage of Heroes of the Dorm (a competition in which collegiate teams compete in Blizzard Entertainment’s popular game Heroes of the Storm) with the final airing live on ESPN2. This was was the first live, televised coverage of a collegiate eSports event for ESPN. Furthermore, ESPN3 carried live coverage of BlizzCon and the International Dota 2 Championships over the past two years, as well as the 2014 League of Legends tournament. Also, over the past few years, the X Games have medaled the top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Call of Duty pro gamers through a partnership with Major League Gaming (MLG) offering views coverage across ESPN.
TBS
ELeague, the eSports competition that draws more than 9 million viewers, is broadcast on TBS as well as online. ELeague is a global eSports event for games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Street Fighter V, Overwatch and Injustice 2. Last summer, TBS also broadcast Clash for Cash: The Rematch, a $250,000 match between Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams Astralis and Virtus.pro, as well as the 10th ELeague Major tournament, which was sponsored by Valve. Turner Sports was selected to host the tournament after completing just one three-month CS:GO season. TBS also televised live the Overwatch Open, the first professional Overwatch tournament to ever hit TV. Turner and its ELeague partner WME IMG’s live broadcast was shown in front of a sold-out audience.
More to Learn
The market for eSports viewership continues to grow, and it’s only going to grow in the next few years. That’s why BI Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, has put together a comprehensive guide on the future of professional gaming called The eSports Ecosystem.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/live-streaming-esports-online-tv-2018-1
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