The ESL eSports League Will Be Streaming Exclusively on Facebook
Justin Lam — January 22, 2018 — Business
Facebook just became the official streaming platform for the Counterstrike and DOTA 2 ESL eSports tournaments. Starting in later January 2018, Facebook will begin to broadcast all ESL eEports tournaments including the massively popular CS:GO Pro League. This does not just include live broadcasts, as all recaps, highlights and week in review shows will be streamed on Facebook.
Prior to this deal, ESL held streaming deals with several streaming platforms, including Own3d, Twitch and YouTube. While the most popular eSports leagues prefer Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, the choice to jump ship by ESL was done in an attempt to reach a larger audience that may not be avid gamers. According to Ken Hershman, the choice was made to not only reach a larger audience, but to further support the engagement of viewers thanks to Facebook's inherent service.
With eSports growing immensely in popularity, this connection to the social media giant seems like an amazing play and will definitely increase viewership for ESL.
Prior to this deal, ESL held streaming deals with several streaming platforms, including Own3d, Twitch and YouTube. While the most popular eSports leagues prefer Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, the choice to jump ship by ESL was done in an attempt to reach a larger audience that may not be avid gamers. According to Ken Hershman, the choice was made to not only reach a larger audience, but to further support the engagement of viewers thanks to Facebook's inherent service.
With eSports growing immensely in popularity, this connection to the social media giant seems like an amazing play and will definitely increase viewership for ESL.
Trend Themes
1. Shift to Social Media Streaming - The deal between ESL eSports and Facebook shows a trend of eSports leagues shifting from traditional streaming platforms to social media for wider audience reach.
2. Increasing Viewership for Esports Tournaments - The partnership with Facebook will likely result in increased viewership and engagement for ESL eSports tournaments.
3. Expanding Esports Audience - By streaming eSports tournaments on Facebook, ESL aims to attract a larger audience that may not be avid gamers.
Industry Implications
1. Esports - The ESL eSports league's deal with Facebook highlights opportunities for eSports leagues to explore new streaming platforms to reach broader audiences.
2. Social Media - The partnership between ESL eSports and Facebook showcases the potential for social media platforms to become major players in the eSports streaming market.
3. Online Video Streaming - The move by ESL eSports to exclusively stream on Facebook suggests opportunities for online video streaming platforms to collaborate with eSports leagues for increased viewership.
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