Twitter is set to begin streaming esports tournaments in 2017. The microblogging site has signed a deal with ESL, Dreamhack, and Intel to broadcast at least 15 events during this calendar year.
ESL will also be producing original content for Twitter, including a half-hour show that covers what goes on behind the scenes at an esports tournament. There’s scant few details on what other shows will be appearing as part of this deal.
Intel’s Extreme Masters Katowice will be the first tournament to receive the Twitter streaming treatment. The IEM Katowice has technically already begun, with League of Legends portion having been played last weekend. However, Twitter will be streaming the Counter Strike: Global Offensive portion starting from 4 March.
Streaming is a rapidly growing market that just about everyone has been trying to break into. None have managed to come close to the size and numbers of Twitch – which just happened to be the first company to figure out how to do it properly.
It’s difficult to imagine viewers moving away from Twitch to watch games on Twitter. If only because Twitter doesn’t actually offer anything new. Twitters streaming page looks extremely bare bones at he moment. Although, this is likely the start of a long process of refinement.
[Source: Twitter]
