Madden NFL coverage another step on EA’s esports journey

06 December 2016

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It has been reported this week that NFL Media is said to have established a significant deal which will see EA Sports Madden content broadcast on NFL.com. screen-shot-2016-12-06-at-3-03-55-pm

A range of sites including theScore eSports, Sports Business Journal and eSports Pro have covered the news that this will be to cover the $1 million Madden NFL Championship Series.

It will mean that a show titled EA SPORTS Madden NFL America will be available to view in 30 minute chunks on the official NFL site, on the NFL network on Saturday mornings and via other channels too. 

The series will run throughout the first half of the year and come to a close in May. 

Michael Mandt, NFL Media’s Executive Producer for Original Content told SportsBusiness Journal: “This is a different space that everybody is interested in. We’re trying to see if there’s an opportunity for us to capitalize on an industry that’s really growing fast. We haven’t set high ratings expectations. We know it’s really new. It’s a long plan for us.”

This is another string to EA’s esports bow, with the company’s competitive gaming division prepping for a big 2017. The FIFA scene is one which is growing at a decent rate, with more traditional clubs picking up players and some, such as Schalke, investing properly into the scene with coaches alongside players. 

The FIWC 2017 will be pro FIFA’s biggest competition yet with $200,000 up for grabs and with the finals taking place in London, attendees should expect a show. Esports even got a mention in official FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s ‘FIFA 2.0 – The Vision for the Future’ blueprint earlier this year. 

Esports Insider says: The extended and wide ranging coverage of the Madden series is excellent news for its competitive scene. EA Sports is set for a big push in 2017, and it could well be a make or break year for sports simulation titles in esports.