Welcome to the exhilarating world of esports on TV! Gone are the days when video games were considered a mere pastime. Today, they’ve morphed into a global phenomenon, making their way into mainstream media and our living rooms.
Esports, with its heart-thumping action and high-stakes competition, is no less thrilling than traditional sports. It’s drawing in millions of viewers, both online and on TV. But how did this digital revolution happen? And what’s its impact on the television industry?
The Rise of Esports on TV
Evolution of Esports Broadcasting
Started as a niche digital entertainment, esports broadcasting rapidly expanded its influence, breaking through traditional boundaries. By the late 2010s, esports games like StarCraft II, Fortnite, and League of Legends received airtime on conventional TV channels, such as ESPN and BBC. For instance, ESPN began airing esports in 2014, spotlighting the world’s elite video game players in primetime slots. These televised events are immersive content offerings that bridge the divide between digital and physical realms in an impressive display of technological wizardry.
Popularity and Growth Statistics
The tale of esports’ ascension is told best by the data charting its exponential growth. In 2012, esports had a modest following of about 134 million viewers. Flash forward to 2020 and that number swelled to an incredible 495 million, according to data from Newzoo, a leading gaming industry analytics firm. This surge in viewership corresponds with a significant upward trend in revenue generation, with the esports market raking in nearly $1 billion in 2020 alone. This showcases the dramatic impact of broadcasting competitive gaming on TV, an influence that’s shaping the future trajectory of both the television and the broader media industry.
The Impact of Esports on Television
Attracting Younger Audiences to TV
Esports has revolutionized the television landscape. Televised esports events have proven successful in attracting younger audiences, a demographic typically less engaged with traditional TV content. This transition is evident in the increased viewership statistics. For instance, the 2020 League of Legends World Championship Final attracted 45 million simultaneous online and TV viewers, with the majority being the 18 to 34-year-old demographic. By showcasing popular esports titles, TV networks have tapped into an underserved audience, renewing interest and paving the way to adapt to evolving viewership patterns.
Revenue Generation Opportunities
Beyond viewership, esports on TV also signifies a myriad of revenue generation opportunities. Broadcast partnerships between esports organizations and TV networks have brought an influx of revenue, through sources such as advertising, sponsorship deals, and media rights. Sponsorship deals, for instance, account for the majority of the global esports market revenue. According to Newzoo’s Global Esports Market Report, esports revenues hit $947.1 million in 2020, of which $584.1 million came from sponsorships. This surge in revenue could prove pivotal in redefining the financial models of the television industry.
Major TV Network Deals with Esports
The ESPN and Riot Games Partnership
ESPN and Riot Games, it’s a collaboration for the ages. Entering into a multi-year deal in 2013, ESPN began broadcasting League of Legends competitions on its network. Not just merely a sign of validation for esports, this deal symbolizes its evolution into a mainstream form of entertainment.
Further, ESPN’s digital platform ESPN3 saw the broadcast of League of Legends tournaments, reaching millions of viewers around the world. Evidence of such viewership? The 2019 League of Legends World Championship, which raked in a whopping 21.8 million peak viewership according to Esports Charts.
The Turner and ELEAGUE Collaboration
The Turner Broadcasting System has also staked its claim in esports. Teaming up with talent agency IMG in 2016, they created ELEAGUE. This esports competitive league enjoyed prominently featured broadcasts on TBS, a first for esports.
In fact, ELEAGUE’s first season drew an audience of 150k per episode on TBS, according to Nielsen ratings. In addition, its live streams pulled in a sizable audience, with the ELEAGUE Major Grand Final in 2017 clocking 1.12 million concurrent viewers on Twitch according to GitHyp, a record for an esports event.