Danish tournament organiser and production company BLAST has revealed a global media distribution plan for its first-ever and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s (CS:GO) final Major tournament, set to be held in Paris later this year.
With media distribution reaching over 100 territories and 24 languages, BLAST has its sights set on breaking all-time viewership records, according to a release.
Alongside the renewal of existing deals with previous broadcast partners, BLAST has secured a number of new media rights partnerships. Denmark’s TV2 Zulu, which is desk-analysed by former pro player Lucas “Bubzkji’ Andersen, Serbia’s Relog Media, China’s GGTV, France’s MGG TV, Sub-Saharan Africa’s StarTimes, Ukraine’s Maincast, Poland’s FantasyExpo, Germany’s Fragster, and many more will be broadcast partners for the BLAST Paris Major 2023, according to the release.
Counter-Strike’s ‘Major’ tournaments are the most anticipated in the calendar year. The most-viewed CS:GO tournaments across the title’s decade-long history are all Major tournaments across 2017-2022, with the number one spot held by the PGL Major Stockholm in 2021 at 2.75m peak viewers.
The upcoming Major will be the first-ever France-hosted Major in CS:GO — a country that has a lengthy and decorated history in the FPS — and the game’s final Major tournament before the release of Counter-Strike 2. 2023 also marks the 10-year anniversary of Global Offensive, and this Major event is meant to celebrate that through ‘highlighting … the most iconic moments from the pinnacle of esports and Counter-Strike,’ according to the release.
Alexander Lewin, VP of Distribution and Programming at BLAST, commended the announcement: “The BLAST.tv Paris Major is the pinnacle of the esports calendar. It presents BLAST and our broadcast partners with an opportunity to showcase the very best of Counter-Strike to a massive global audience.
“The multitude of leading linear and online media rights partners are testament to this demand and trust in BLAST’s fan-first productions and events. We have a truly global network of broadcasters, who are bringing world-class esports entertainment to their local audiences.”
The BLAST Paris Major finals will be live from Accor Arena May 18th-21st.
