World Series Of Video Games, Presented By Intel, Inks Major 2007 Broadcast Deal With CBS
CBS Sports to air four hours of competitive gaming coverage throughout the year, highlighting featured titles "World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade®", "Guitar Hero IIT" and "EA SPORTST Fight Night Round 3"
NEW YORK - May 30, 2007 - The World Series of Video Games, Presented by Intel, (WSVG), the world circuit of video game tournaments, today announced it has signed a broadcast deal with CBS Sports to air extensive coverage of its 2007 season, bringing professional video game competitions to major U.S. network television for the second year running. The deal brings exciting WSVG content into 111 million television homes in the United States alone, solidifying its position as the most widely distributed and accessible video game competition in America.
"We're delighted to work with the World Series of Video Games to bring competitive video games to a wide audience as part of our award-winning sports coverage," said Rob Correa, senior vice president of programming for CBS Sports. "With popular titles that broaden the appeal of competitive gaming, we think this will be the year that television broadcasting of video games really takes off."
Following up on last year's deal with CBS, the 2007 broadcast coverage of the WSVG will expand to four separate hour-long events timed after the three major U.S. events and the finals in Sweden. They will air as part of the CBS Sports Spectacular on Sunday, July 29; Sunday, August 19; Saturday, November 17; and Saturday, December 15. Each episode will include segments on the competitors, as well as extensive competition footage for the featured titles, which include "Blizzard Entertainment®'s "World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade®", Activision's "Guitar Hero IIT" and "EA SPORTST Fight Night Round 3."
"The World Series of Video Games, Presented by Intel believes that the excitement of video game competition belongs on broadcast network television, accessible to all," said Matthew Ringel, president and commissioner of the World Series of Video Games. "In CBS, we have the perfect partner- the undisputed leader in sports television, with unparalleled reach through its network and the CBS Interactive Audience Network online. We look forward to a great year together in advancing the potential for video game competition on television."
The 2007 agreement with CBS was again packaged by Bob Horowitz and JUMA ENTERTAINMENT, the WSVG's television consultant. With the CBS arrangement now in place, JUMA will continue to work with the WSVG on additional media opportunities to expand the WSVG brand through other distribution channels.
The series of programs will be produced and directed by Matthew Mills, of TV By Mills, who oversaw MTV Networks' Gamer's Week 2.0 in 2006. It will be hosted by sportscaster Greg Amsinger, who anchored the WSVG Finals, Presented by Intel on CBS' College Sports Television earlier this year.
Schedule of Televised WSVG Events:
EVENT DATE VENUE AIRDATE
June 21 - 24 Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, July 29
July 5 - 8 Dallas, Texas Sunday, August 19
October 18-21 Los Angeles, California Saturday, November 17
Nov. 29 - Dec. 2 Jönköping, Sweden Saturday, December 15
About The World Series of Video Games
The World Series of Video Games is the world's premier video game tournament circuit, which recently began its second season. In 2006, the World Series of Video Games attracted more than 90,000 attendees, produced 250 hours of broadband video, and 20 hours of nationally broadcast programming led by CBS. Registration for all events, a full list of rules, and all prizing for circuit events is available on the WSVG website at www.thewsvg.com.
About Intel Corporation
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com