Activision Blizzard Media Networks Creates An Enhanced Viewing Experience For eSports On MLG.tv
ActivisionBlizzardMediaNetworksCreatesAnEnhancedViewingExperienceForeSportsOnMLG。
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PostedByJossWoodonMay13,2016-LastUpdatedonJanuary22,2018
[toc]ActivisionBlizzardMediaNetworks(ABMN)islaunching“newcontent,broadcastexperiencesanddistributionpartnerships”foritsMLG。
tveSportsstreamingplatform。
ABMNisdeploying?
newtechnologywhichitcalls“EnhancedViewingExperience”todeliverahighdefinitionvideostreamthatprovidesviewerswithdetailedmatchstatistics,real-timeleaderboardsand“situationalinsightsbasedonthecompetitiontheyarewatching。
”
eSportsisatthetippingpoint
Esportsisaculturalphenomenonatitstippingpoint,”saidMikeSepso,seniorvicepresidentofABMN:
Thesizeofourdigitalnetwork,coupledwithourinsightsintothisaudiencesviewinghabits,putusinauniquepositiontoeducatetheadvertisingindustryonhowtosafelytargettheseviewersandreachthemontheirplatformofchoice。
Digitalchannelsnowproduce88%ofcompanyrevenues
BlizzardActivisionisthecompanybehindsomeofthetopgamesineSports,includingWorldofWarcraft,StarCraft,HearthstoneandCallofDuty。
Lastweekthecompanypublisheditsfirstquarterresultsfor2016。
GAAPrevenuesof$1。
46billionwereanewcompanyrecordand14percentuponthe$1。
28billionforthefirstquarterof2015。
Revenuesfromdigitalchannels,includingMLG。
tv,hitanall-timequarterlyrecordof$797million—onanon-GAAPbasis—up48percentandrepresented88percentoftotalrevenues。
Thereportclaimedthatitsgamesattracted“about42billionhoursofplayedandwatchedtimespentoverthepasttwelvemonths。
”
ActivisionBlizzardtakesitsrelationshipwithFacebooktothenextlevel
ABMNalsoannouncedthatitwas“deepening”itsrelationshipwithFacebook。
TheMLGAnaheimOpenwillbetheinauguraleSportscompetitionmarkingtheexpandedcollaboration。
TheCallofDuty:BlackOpsIIItournamentbeginsonJune10,andwillbebroadcastlivetoapotentialaudienceof1。
6billionviewersonFacebook。
DanReed,headofglobalsportspartnershipsforFacebookcommented:
Esportsisanexcitingspaceandcontinuestobeagrowingpriorityforus。
Withover1。
6billionpeopleontheplatformandagrowingsuiteofVODandlivestreamingproductsthatpartnerscanusetoincreaseengagement,Facebookisuniquelypositionedtohelpesportsfansconnectaroundexcitingmomentsandgreatesportscontent。
InaclarificationtoWiredmagazine,MikeSepsoconfirmedthatnoneoftheircontentwasgoingtobelockedawaybehindapaywall:
“Werereallyinterestedindistributingourpremiumcontenttoanywherethatviewerswanttoseeit。
eSportsbroadcastingiscomingofage
TheexpansionofbroadcastingbyABMNisinthecenterofanindustrytrendtotakeeSportsviewingtoamuchwideraudience。
OnMay24,thefirstCounterStrike:GlobalOffensivetournamentsinTurnerandWME-IMG’snewly-formedELeaguewillbeginbroadcastingliveonTBS。
Turnerhasbuilta10,000squarefootstadiuminits?
Atlantastudiostohosttheliveevents。
Notlongafterwards,theElectronicSportsLeague(ESL)willlaunchitsneweSportschannelusingMTG’sViasatplatformintheNordicandBalticcountries。
