eSports
Expansion of broadcast rights with Activision Blizzard: SPORT1 acquires extensive rights to leading esports titles for the German-speaking and pan-European regions
Overwatch League, Hearthstone Masters Tour and Grandmasters as well as World of Warcraft with Arena World Championship and Mythic Dungeon International live and in highlights on both channels eSPORTS1 and eSportsONE
Activision Blizzard is expanding its distribution rights with SPORT1‘s pan-European channel project, following the conclusion of their initial two-year deal signed with the launch of eSPORTS1 in 2019. The multi-year agreement renews the TV-exclusive rights to the Overwatch League from the start of the season on April 16 across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The deal also extends the rights to the Hearthstone Masters Tour and Grandmasters for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, along with eSportsONE in the European region. New in the program portfolio is World of Warcraft with the events Arena World Championship and Mythic Dungeon International, with their respective Season 1 finals taking place April 23-25 and May 1-2.
Brandon Snow, Chief Revenue Officer – Leagues: “SPORT1 has been key in introducing new fans to Overwatch League and Hearthstone throughout Europe and the German speaking region. We are thrilled to continue bringing these epic competitions to all of our fans in the region, while expanding this deal with World of Warcraft’s premier programs.“
Daniel von Busse, COO TV and Member of the Management of Sport1 GmbH: “By extending our partnership with Activision Blizzard to the pan-European region, we gain another central content partner for our first international channel project. The extension of our cooperation with one of the most important global players strengthens the portfolio of our two pay channels for the coming years and, together with our other partners, forms a strong basis for further growth in the esports area.“
Overwatch League has started new season on April 16
The Overwatch League is the first global esports league with teams from numerous world cities in Asia, Europe and North America. On April 16, 2021, the Overwatch League started its fourth season – divided into an East Region with eight teams and a West Region with twelve teams. The four tournament series are spread throughout the year and end with the competitions “May Melee“, “June Joust“, “Summer Showdown“ and “Countdown Cup“. The top four teams in the East and the top six in the West then compete against each other in a knockout format, with the crowning glory being the top two teams from each region playing each other in the grand tournament final. The prize money totals 4.25 million USD.
Hearthstone Masters Tour and Grandmasters are in full-swing
Hearthstone is the world‘s most popular digital competitive card game. In 2021, six Masters Tour events will take place, all of which will be played online. The season kicked off last month with the Masters Tour Eisenschmiede. Masters Tour tournaments award points toward qualifying for the Hearthstone Grandmasters. Each Masters Tour event has a prize pool of 250,000 USD. In the Hearthstone Grandmasters, which began April 9, players compete in weekly tournaments for the first seven weeks of the season. After the seventh week, playoff participation will be decided based on total points. The champions from all three regions will be up for a spot in the 2021 World Championship later this year.
World of Warcraft (WoW) new in the portfolio of eSPORTS1 and eSportsONE
Starting this year, the two channels will also show World of Warcraft (WoW) for the first time: The Arena World Championship (AWC) has been divided into two different seasons for its 14th edition. In the Circuit, the top 8 teams compete for a prize pool of 160,000 USD in March and April. The top four teams will play in the finals of Season 1 for 200,000 USD on May 1-2. Season 2 will then start directly at the Circuit in July and August – with the fight for the four slots in the Grand Finals and the championship title of the AWC: Shadowlands Champions 2021. The Mythic Dungeon International (MDI) also includes two Seasons in 2021 – with a total prize pool of 750,000 USD. There will be four cups per season – the first season Global Finals took place April 23-25.
24/7 program for the esports community: What eSPORTS1 and eSportsONE offer
eSPORTS1 started in January 2019 as the first linear TV channel for esports in the German-speaking region. The program includes at least 1,200 live hours of top-class international and national esports events as well as highlight shows and in-house produced magazines. eSPORTS1 is currently distributed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via the pay-TV platforms of Vodafone, Unitymedia, Deutsche Telekom, 1&1, T-Mobile Austria, A1 Telekom, UPC Switzerland, Swisscom blue TV, Amazon Channels, Zattoo and Waipu.tv. On each of these platforms, the channel is offered in selected program packages. In addition, eSPORTS1 can also be booked as a live stream in the eSPORTS1 app.
After the successful launch of eSPORTS1, Sport1 GmbH implemented a pan-European channel project for the first time with the start of eSportsONE. The 24/7 program of eSportsONE comprises over 1,000 live hours per year of top-class international esports events as well as exclusive, self-produced analysis formats. eSportsONE is currently offered in Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as in Norway and Sweden via M7’s pay-TV platforms – TV Vlaanderen, CanalDigitaal and Skylink – and Telenor.
Central content partners of Sport1 GmbH besides Activision Blizzard are ESL, NBA 2K League and Psyonix with the esports titles Dota 2, Starcraft 2, Warcraft 3, NBA 2K and Rocket League.
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Africa
Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to do battle against Namibia – AEC25
Mind Sports South Africa’s Protea Female CS2 team, led by captain Jess Greeff and featuring Avonique van Rooyen, dominated IESF’s AEC24, and emerged undefeated, and punched their ticket to the world stage. The female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title are trailblazers in female esports and are already making their mark internationally.
To qualify for IESF’s World Esports Championships 2025 (WEC25), South Africa’s Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title will be taking on Namibia at15H00 on 21 June 2025.
South Africa’s Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title has never lost to Namibia, and both MSSA and the team are confident that the result will be the same as all previous encounters.
The team has shown a few changes from 2024. Jessica Greeff remains the captain, and Avonique van Rooyen and Megan van der Westhuizen too stay on the team with their vast international experience. The two new additions are Kiera McCullum and Kalee Ludick who further add to the team.
MSSA is of the belief that the 2025 Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title is the strongest female Counter Strike 2 team to ever represent South Africa.
The full team to represent South Africa at15H00 on 21 June 2025 is:
| Name | Club | Nick | Province |
| Jessica Eleez Greeff (Capt.) | ZAG Academy | heartjess | KwaZulu Natal |
| Avonique van Rooyen | ZAG Academy | avo | Gauteng |
| Kiera McCallum | ZAG Academy | queen | KwaZulu Natal |
| Megan van der Westhuizen | ZAG Academy | m3gz | Gauteng |
| Kalee Ludick | ZAG Academy | creative | Gauteng |
The post Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to do battle against Namibia – AEC25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Global esports organisation Gen.G Esports (Gen.G) announced the official grand opening of GGX (Gen.G Gaming Xperience), a multi-dimensional cultural gaming space that brings its brand philosophy to life to an offline space in the heart of Seoul. Launching on Saturday, June 21, GGX marks the first-ever flagship venue by an esports brand that redefines the traditional PC café, offering a high-performance gaming zone alongside curated lifestyle experiences across food, merchandise, community and coaching.
Located near DDP, a cultural and artistic landmark in Seoul at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, GGX spans 1570 square meters and includes 252 premium gaming stations equipped with top-tier specs. Each seat features NVIDIA RTX 5070 GPUs, LG UltraGear monitors, Logitech gaming peripherals, ultra-fast internet and Gen.G x SIDIZ custom-designed gaming chairs, with an estimated hardware value of KRW 4.5 million (USD 3300) per station, delivering a fully immersive play environment.
More than just a gaming space, GGX will act as Gen.G’s flagship space – an open, ever-expanding ecosystem where brands, fans and creators come together to create a unique experience. From concept to execution, GGX was co-developed with industry-leading partners such as Otoki, Monster Energy and SIDIZ, creating a space that blends gaming, content and community in new ways.
Inside GGX, visitors can enjoy a variety of immersive experiences, including:
“OTOKI G.ROUND”, a food & beverage lounge co-developed with Otoki, offering exclusive signature menu items
An iconic photo spot and photo booth featuring GenRang, Gen.G’s official mascot
A merchandise store, showcasing Gen.G uniforms, exclusive partner collaboration items and GGX-limited items
A community lounge with a capacity for over 100 people – designed as a space for fans to connect and share their passion for gaming, and engage in community-driven activities.
In collaboration with Gen.G Global Academy (GGA), GGX also offers coaching programmes and skill-up classes for gamers of all levels. Led by former pro players, these sessions include in-depth strategic game analysis, aim training and team-based gameplay. The venue will also host regular fan meetups, watch parties and branded community events, creating a dynamic environment for fans to connect and grow together.
Steve Lee, Head of Partnerships at Gen.G, said: “GGX goes beyond just gaming – it’s a cultural hub where fans, players, and brands come together to create meaningful experiences. Through spaces like this and continued innovation, Gen.G aims to lead the sustainable growth of the esports industry.”
GGX is operated by Superplay, a leading IP management company in the gaming and esports space, with proven experience designing fan-centric spaces such as T1 Basecamp Hongdae, KT Rolster R Café and Genshin PC Lounge. Superplay and Gen.G co-developed GGX over several months, from spatial design to branded content and programming.
Junghyun Kim, CEO of Superplay, said: “After months of development with the Gen.G team, we’re proud to finally unveil GGX. We hope it becomes a must-visit destination for gaming and esports fans from Korea and around the world.”
The post Gen.G Opens “GGX”, the Next-Gen Cultural Gaming Space appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
EWC to open with a celebration of gaming culture on July 10, 2025, connecting global fans through the power of music on the world’s biggest esports stage.
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced that global music icon Post Malone will headline the Opening Ceremony of the Esports World Cup 2025, taking place on July 10, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Post Malone’s performance will kick-off a seven-week event that brings together gaming, music, and culture, reflecting the EWC’s role advancing gaming as mainstream entertainment for a digital generation.
A 9x diamond-certified global artist and lifelong gamer, Post Malone has deep roots in the esports and gaming community – streaming Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and Hunt: Showdown on Twitch, and collaborating with developers on in-game events, including a recent crossover with Apex Legends. His exclusive live performance will open EWC 2025, blending chart-topping sound with a celebration of gaming culture on the world’s premier competitive stage.
“Esports is becoming a global cultural force – where music, storytelling, and competition converge to create moments that are not just seen, but felt,” said Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer, of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “With Post Malone, a global artist and true gamer, opening the tournament, we continue to celebrate the power of music – a universal language that brings fans together and defines the cultural future of esports.”
“This year’s Opening Ceremony will deliver a fresh take on the classic story of ambition, resilience and progress, told through the lens of EWC. ” added Ariel Horn, Executive Producer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “It’s exciting and new. So many game genres converging on one global stage, the music fuels the competitive fire at the heart of this event and this industry, and Post Malone is the perfect voice to carry that passion and celebrate the beginning of an historic event.”
This announcement follows the launch of EWC Music, a long-term initiative to create an original music identity for the Esports World Cup and establish music as a core pillar of the fan cultural experience. The programme began on April 27 with the recording of a four-track music suite at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, featuring original compositions by acclaimed music collectives 2WEI and Hollywood Scoring. Through original scores, global artist collaborations, and fan-focused soundtracks, EWC Music is designed to connect global audiences through a shared emotional language that elevates every moment of the competition – from broadcast to live stages. Additional artists, performances, and music-driven collaborations will be revealed in the coming weeks as part of the wider EWC Music program.
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The EWC 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool.
The post Post Malone to Headline Esports World Cup 2025 Opening Ceremony in Riyadh appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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