Professional football league Ligue 1 Uber Eats has named French esports channel ES1 as the official TV broadcaster for its 2021 eLigue 1 campaign.
ES1 will broadcast the championships alongside commentary by the channel’s on-screen talent, Alix ‘Nanix95’ Dulac and Bob Obéron. The French esports channel will also provide written editorial pieces dedicated to eLigue 1 news and match breakdowns.
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Operating under parent company Webedia, ES1 was the first dedicated esports TV channel in France. According to a release, the channel averages 1.3 million viewers per month and promotes the French-speaking esports scene. ES1 was the official French broadcast partner of last year’s EA Sports FIFA 20 Stay and Play Cup.
eLigue 1 is France’s official domestic FIFA 21 competition organised by EA Sports and the French Football League. The competition is a part of the FIFA Global Series along with the ePremier League, eSerie A, and eDivisie, among others.
The tournament enters its fifth season in early May, offering competitors a chance to win €40,000 (~£35,000) and qualification for the EA Sports FIFA 21 Global Series European Playoffs in November.
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This season sees all 20 Ligue 1 Uber Eats clubs compete, with each football team represented by one player on PS4 and Xbox, respectively.
Season 5 begins on the group stage, comprised of four groups of five teams. Players will then face off in the final stages in early June, following a single-elimination tournament. The two best players will qualify for the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series European Playoffs.
Esports Insider says: Sports simulation games are growing rapidly, partly fueled by the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. Many of those who were unable to attend or watch traditional matches turned to esports tournaments for their football fix. It will be interesting to see if that interest carries over into post-pandemic times