Epic Games has appointed IMG to manage the distribution and media production of its Fortnite World Cup, taking place this weekend in New York City.
IMG will deliver all content via an encoded stream from its IMG Studios production facility in the UK. Sport 24 Extra, IMG’s in-flight sports channel, will also present the Fortnite World Cup live during international flights on selected airlines.
Oliver Boden, Head of Esports Europe & International Sales at IMG said: “Fortnite has become one of the largest global gaming phenomenons, with guaranteed entertainment and highly competitive fast-paced action. We are delighted to be working with Epic Games to distribute The Fortnite World Cup 2019 media rights and tapping into new territories and markets worldwide.”
The Fortnite World Cup will be hosted from July 26-28th at the 23,000 capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium. The tournament will feature several separate events including the Creative championship, solos and duos finals, as well as the Celebrity Pro-AM.
The total prize pool for the tournament is $30 million (£24 million), with the winners of the both the solos and duos competitions taking home the top prize of $3 million (£2.4 million) each. The Fortnite World Cup prize pool was the biggest in esports history until Valve’s The International 2019 surpassed the total this week.
Esports Insider says: With such a huge prize pool on the line, there is no doubt the Fortnite World Cup is going to be a highly watched tournament. Bringing IMG Media on-board is a smart move from Epic Games as it will allow them to reach a multitude of worldwide audiences, even those on aeroplanes!