Esports

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Twitch's three-year deal with ESL and DreamHack is a landmark for the streaming platform and another sign that the esports industry is adopting traditional media-rights principles.

Esports organisations ESL and DreamHack are looking to the long-term as they continue to agree media rights deals with more traditional broadcasters.

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.

Esports organisations DreamHack and ESL have agreed a new three-year broadcast deal in Brazil, awarding rights to commercial broadcaster Globo and entertainment streaming platform Omelete

Esports organisations ESL and DreamHack have agreed a rights deal with Chinese streaming platform DouYu

Chinese video sharing and online-gaming platform Bilibili has agreed a wide-ranging three-year contract with US video games developer and esports event organiser Riot Games

Features

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.