Esports

Latest Features

Riot Games has been prolific in sealing League of Legends esports media-rights deals with Asian streaming platforms in recent months, but such deals remain secondary to the company's primary focus of games publishing.

Mobile gaming and streaming company Bilibili is hoping its deal for rights to the next three League of Legends World Championships will demonstrate the strategic power of top-tier esports content in China.

Three major deals last month have shown the esports market is maturing quickly, with rights-holders focusing on exclusivity and rights fees over universal reach and exposure for sponsors.

Twitch’s deal with game developer Activision Blizzard last month is the latest indication the live-streaming platform and its rivals are now seeking esports rights on an exclusive basis.

Germany-based sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights to esports events organised by ESL, the tournament organiser and production company

Telecoms operator Telia has acquired rights in Finland from the esports organisations DreamHack and ESL to the ESL Pro Tour

Call of Duty League, a new esports competition launched by US interactive entertainment company Activision Blizzard, has agreed a three-season rights deal with social media platform Twitter

The 7Sports subsidiary of German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 has retained rights to esports events organised by ESL, the tournament organiser and production company, until at least 2022