Tournament organiser BLAST has launched the beta version of an app for BLAST.tv, its tailored viewing platform.
The app, which is available for iOS and Android platforms, was launched during last week’s BLAST Premier Spring Groups event in Copenhagen, Denmark.
BLAST claimed that the BLAST.tv app received over 3500 downloads during the first week. The tournament organiser did not provide a timeline for when the app might come out of beta.
The company said in a release the app would allow esports fans to watch Counter-Strike on the go with a ‘tailored viewing experience’. BLAST also disclosed that the BLAST.tv platform saw 2.2m users in 2023 and currently has over 130,000 registered users.
BLAST launched BLAST.tv in November 2022. Notably, BLAST esports events are not exclusive to the platform and are still distributed across existing distribution channels, such as Twitch.
Rather, the platform is designed as a hub to offer a more engaging viewing experience for committed fans. It has a custom-built 4K video player alongside features like live stats, interactive polls, timelines and automatic highlights, among other viewer quality of life additions.
The platform was pushed heavily during the eponymous BLAST.tv Paris Major last year. In an interview with Esports Insider in May 2023 following the Major, BLAST told Esports Insider that the event helped BLAST.tv reach its all-time high of 27,000 peak viewers, which was an average of about 5-10% of the event’s viewership on Twitch.
The company explained in the interview that operating its own bespoke viewership platform allows it to offer more tailored, engaging sponsorship opportunities and inventory for partners.
BLAST is set to operate a number of notable esports events in 2024 including the BLAST Premier Counter-Strike tournament series, Fortnite’s and Rocket League’s esports series, Rainbow 6’s esports circuit and more.
