ESL launching 24/7 eSports channel
The world's first eSports-focused TV channel will go live in Nordic and Baltic countries next month
ESL announced today that it's about to launch a brand-new TV channel dedicated to eSports. The 24/7 eSports channel, appropriately named eSports TV, is expected to launch in May on MTG's (ESL parent company) Viasat platforms in the Nordic and Baltic countries. ESL said it's also currently discussing how to bring the channel to other distributors and platform operators in other regions of the world.
As you might expect, ESL's TV channel will feature the eSports company's core competitions and tournaments and will offer over 2,000 live hours of eSports content. "eSportsTV will add to ESL's current audience of over 100 million digital viewers. The launch of eSportsTV and its distribution on new channels will tap into the audience of more than 2 billion gamers and 250 million eSports fans that the industry will have by the end of next year," the company noted, adding that the channel will operate alongside already existing partnerships ESL has in place with Twitch, Azubu, Hitbox and Yahoo.
ESL's Managing Director, Ralf Reichert, said, "We have always dreamt of making eSports the world's most popular sport, and it's the opportunities like this one that bring us one step closer to making that dream come true. Bringing new and existing content to more screens worldwide is key to further accelerating the growth and popularity of eSports, and we're on a mission to reach every gamer in the world."