After some initial articles introducing the league, ESPN and Major League Gaming have entered a content sharing agreement.
As part of the deal, MLG will host co-branded tournaments with ESPN and ESPN will cover MLG players and competitions in a brand new videogaming section.
The news comes just one month after the completion of the first season of the Championship Gaming Series. Not coincidentally, both CGS and MLG are pushing the “sport” angle of e-Sports pretty hard. I’d have to say that MLG has the edge at the moment, but there’s really no telling how much money changed hands here.
If MLG had to part with a few million to get this set up, they may not come out ahead after all. Remember, CGS has its own distribution platform, while MLG has to pay others to get broadcasts and coverage out there.
Still, the content sharing agreement is a good thing for e-Sports. It’s just not the “original” e-Sports (that is to say, PC gaming) — MLG is best known for its Halo tournaments, but according to MLG CEO Michael Sepso, the door is open for games on any platform.
Read the full press release after the jump.
Related: CGS World Final = Pam Anderson’s tits
ESPN Enters Content Agreement With Major League Gaming
ESPN.com, the leading online sports destination, today announced it has entered a content agreement with Major League Gaming (MLG), the leading professional video game league.
ESPN will serve as a primary outlet for news about MLG, providing extensive digital coverage of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit Competitions, including exclusive streamed matches, pro player interviews, and scores and stats. Additionally, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video game tournaments.
ESPN will be on site at each of the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit Competitions, reporting news from its own coverage booth for various ESPN programs and platforms, including ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband sports network.
Additionally, ESPN.com will launch a competitive video gaming section replete with all of the latest news, information and video as it relates to competitive gaming. The section will include background on MLG, interviews with marquee players, video from past competitions and the ESPN/MLG Top Ten, which includes regularly updated video highlighting top game play from MLG pros and players. ESPN.com will announce details of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit season in the coming weeks.
“ESPN is committed to serving our fans, and we recognize the growing popularity of pro video gaming,” said John Kosner, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN digital media. “Adding MLG content to our already comprehensive offering will help us continue to deliver the best news, information and entertainment to our growing gaming audience.”
“Pro video gaming offers sports fans everything they love about sports—great teams, break-out personalities and stars, and exciting competition,” said Matthew Bromberg, President and CEO of Major League Gaming. “MLG’s digital properties now reach over four million fans a month, and millions more follow the League on TV, mobile devices, and X-Box Live. We’re excited to build upon that audience with ESPN.”
ESPN.com’s video game section (ESPNVideogames.com) is the leading online destination for the latest sports gaming news, analysis, reviews, rankings, video, teasers, cheats, podcasts and the home of game simulations (including Madden, NCAA Football, NBA Live and NASCAR).
About ESPN
ESPN, Inc. is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company with over 50 business entities. Sports media assets include ESPN on ABC, six domestic cable television networks, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and other growing businesses, including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Products (wireless), ESPN On Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV.
About Major League Gaming
Major League Gaming is North America’s first professional videogame league, and its only sanctioning body for pro gaming. MLG operates the multi-city MLG Pro Circuit, presented by GameStop and powered by Xbox 360; produces compelling competitions for national television, broadband and mobile distribution; and exclusively represents the best gamers in the world. It also operates a thriving online community and online tournaments for millions of gamers at mlgpro.com. MLG, founded in 2002, is based in New York City and is privately held.
