Esports
Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal faces European Commission probe
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of game company Activision Blizzard by US-based technology giant Microsoft
Blast Premier taps CSM as sales agency of record
CSM Sport & Entertainment has been appointed as the sales agency of record for the Blast Premier esports tournament series
Sportfive adds Gen.G to esports representation roster
The Sportfive agency has added to its esports representation portfolio by agreeing a multi-year strategic alliance with the Gen.G organisation
Mastercard extends backing of Riot Games
Payment services provider Mastercard has renewed its sponsorship deal with video game developer Riot Games
Chiefs WR Smith-Schuster invests in esports platform
NFL star to work on multiple fronts with World Champion Fantasy
Australia’s NBL forms NBA 2K League expansion team
The NBA 2K League is continuing its global outreach by bringing in an Australia-based expansion team for the 2023 season following a landmark partnership with the National Basketball League
Elysian Park Ventures leads Gamurs $12m Series A funding
Elysian Park Ventures, the private investment arm of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers’ ownership group, has led a $12m (€12m) Series A funding round in leading esports media and entertainment publi…
Atresmedia makes esports commitment with CTK venture
Spanish media group Atresmedia has entered the world of esports by joining forces with event production company Cabal esports to form a new company
IOC ‘needs to be involved in esports’, says virtual sports chief Pereira
Esports must be integrated into the Olympic Movement in order to keep pace with social trends, Vincent Pereira, head of virtual sports and gaming at the International Olympic Committee, has said
Sky ventures into esports sponsorship with record Guild deal
UK-based esports organisation Guild Esports has signed a record sponsorship deal with Sky, marking the European media and entertainment group’s first such agreement.
Engaging Esports
SportBusiness speaks to Jason Chung, the man helping to craft New York University’s approach to esports education, and Rick Burton, David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management at Syracuse University, about the challenges universities and academics face in teaching esports – and some of the practices they recommend to deal with them. We also hear from Matteo Masini of masterSport to hear about how the institute responded to industry interest to create an esports-focused masters.
Talent agency YMU buys majority stake in gaming agency Digital Sports Mgmt
Global talent management company YMU has announced the integration of UK-based sports marketing, gaming and entertainment agency Digital Sports Mgmt (DSM) into its YMU Sports division
Pan American Games to feature first-ever Esports Championships
The 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, is set to encompass the inaugural Pan American Esports Championships, it has been announced
ESL Pro League signs multi-year hosting deal with GamingMalta
Malta will host the ESL Pro League esports competition for the next five seasons after a new agreement was reached between the ESL Gaming organisation and GamingMalta
Jakarta to host next Mobile Legends World Championship
Indonesian capital Jakarta will in January host the finals of one of the biggest esports competitions in Southeast Asia, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship
GEF tasks VSPN with developing esports events in China and South Korea
The Global Esports Federation (GEF) has appointed Shanghai-based esports solutions provider Versus Programming Network (VSPN) to support the development and staging of its events in China and South Korea
EA Sports, NFL strike multiyear extension for Madden NFL Championship Series
Video game developer Electronic Arts and the National Football League have announced a multiyear partnership renewal for the EA Sports' Madden NFL Championship Series (MCS)
ESL Gaming agrees production deal with Gravity Media
Esports organiser and media company ESL Gaming has agreed a three-year deal with Gravity Media to deliver production services for its global esports events