Gfinity has announced that it has agreed a deal with broadcaster ELEVEN SPORTS to bring esports action to fans across each of the seven markets it operates in. Perhaps most notably, this includes the USA.
Gfinity’s Elite Series kicked off on July 7th and sees eight pro teams facing off in Street Fighter V, CS:GO and Rocket League. The teams face off in the Elite Series with each having drafted amateur talent into their roster from the Challenger Series and are competing in a 7-week regular season featuring round robin league fixtures, followed by semi-finals and finals.
Gfinity has plans to extend the Challenger Series and Elite Series into new markets. In the press release, the company stated it ‘has outlined its ambition to build a series of events around the world, and build local narrative into a global story which aligns with ELEVEN SPORTS as they look to create more local content to captivate fans in various territories’.
ELEVEN SPORTS will show live coverage of the premium action, along with preview and review shows, behind the scenes footage, documentary and magazine content and industry interviews and features.
“Esports is growing rapidly worldwide and we are thrilled to agree this deal with Gfinity to bring a slice of the action to fans in every one of our markets,” said Danny Menken, Group Managing Director, ELEVEN SPORTS. “Gfinity aims to create a community where gamers can play, share, watch and learn via dynamic and engaging content. This makes it the perfect partner for ELEVEN SPORTS in line with our strategy to bring fans close the action, creating a go to destination where a community of dedicated and passionate millennial fans can access a diverse range of content that is tailor-made for them.”
Neville Upton, CEO, Gfinity plc said: “We are very excited to work with ELEVEN SPORTS as they are an excellent partner to deliver top quality broadcasting to almost 80 million pay TV households on top of their OTT subscribers in the key markets where esports matters the most. ELEVEN SPORTS distribute some of the biggest sporting events which makes them a natural fit for all the competitive video game action that the Elite Series has to offer in full HD, globally.”
Esports Insider says: This is clearly a big deal for Gfinity as the Elite Series continues to take shape and expand. 80 million pay TV households is not to be sniffed at, and the extent and varying forms of content and coverage such as documentary and magazines makes this deal appear even stronger.
