Asia
STAR SPORTS NETWORK ACQUIRES BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR ESPORTS WORLD CUP 2024
Inaugural Esports World Cup is a global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom, with a record-breaking prize pool of over $60 million (500 Cr.)
Star Sports Network and the Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) today announced the acquisition of broadcasting rights for the Esports World Cup (“EWC”) 2024. The tournament, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 3rd to August 25th, will unite the global gaming communities and deliver premier competition in a unique format at an unprecedented scale. Over eight weeks, the EWC will feature the world’s top Esports clubs competing in 21 of the most popular game titles, making it the largest multi-game Esports tournament ever. As the official broadcaster, Star Sports is set to deliver comprehensive coverage of the tournament, offering viewers and fans an unparalleled Esports experience with in-depth commentary in English and Hindi. The Esports World Cup will be streamed on Star Sports’ YouTube channel and broadcast on linear TV via Star Sports First and Star Sports 2.
In 2022, BGMI Masters became the first Esports franchise to be broadcast in India by the Star Sports Network, drawing in millions of viewers over its linear television debut. Highlighting the immense popularity of the online multiplayer battle royale game, Star Sports has been instrumental in bringing esports to the mainstream Indian gaming audience.
Vikram Passi, Head Marketing – Sports, Disney Star, stated, “Esports is rapidly emerging as a significant force, fuelled by India’s burgeoning gaming culture and its recognition on the global stage. The BGMI Masters’ Series, in just a few seasons, has firmly established itself as a premier tournament in India, demonstrating the immense potential for world-class Esports competitions. With the upcoming Esports World Cup broadcast, we aim to expand our audience base, energize the gaming community, and foster greater acceptance of Esports among non-gamers. This event will not only captivate dedicated Esports enthusiasts but also engage a younger demographic across our platforms, driving a broader appreciation for the competitive gaming landscape.”
Ralf Reichert, CEO Esports World Cup Foundation, said “Our partnership with Star Sports brings the Esports World Cup to India’s massive and passionate gaming audience. Having witnessed this firsthand, I’m thrilled to nurture India’s growing esports scene and inspire future champions. With the world’s best competing in Riyadh, we hope to spark a new wave of esports fandom in India, and maybe even see an Indian team claim victory.”
The EWC will offer the largest prize pool in esports and feature the most popular esports titles across all major gaming genres. It will welcome a new cross-game competition format, awarding prizes for individual game titles and club performances. This will be a first ever Esports World Cup with a prize pool of more than $60 million (INR 500 crore)
The eight games to be broadcasted on Star Sports Network are Call of Duty: Warzone, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports FC 24, and PUBG Battlegrounds .
Specific highlights include:
- Opening Broadcast: Week 1 July 3rd at 10 PM on SS First and SS YT Channel with Call of Duty: Warzone in Hindi.
- Weekly Schedule: From Week 3, starting July 18, EWC will be broadcast at 9 PM on SS2 and SS First along with SS YT Channel
- Hindi Commentary: Call of Duty: Warzone (Week 1) and Counter-Strike 2 (Week 3) will be shown with Hindi commentary on SS First along with and SS YT Channel
The Esports World Cup broadcast on the Star Sports Network will further solidify esports as one of the fastest-growing sports in India, bringing the best of global esports action to India. The Esports World Cup Foundation is pleased to share Star Sports’ vision in bringing esports to a broader audience as they continue to pave the way for the future of competitive gaming in India
Asia
MelBet Appoints Bollywood Actress Sherlyn Chopra as its New Brand Ambassador
International iGaming company MelBet has appointed Sherlyn Chopra, one of India’s famous and glamorous actresses, as its new brand ambassador.
As a brand ambassador, Sherlyn would be involved in creating exclusive content and promoting MelBet in international markets.
Sherlyn Chopra is known for her significant success in the film and television industry. Her work, including her role in the psychological thriller, Red Swastik, made her popular in India. Sherlyn is actively involved in showbiz and continues to expand her horizons by doing popular web-series, music albums, short films, launching glamour and style apps and other creative projects.
“I am incredibly excited to become a part of the MelBet family. Sports are more than just games or competitions as they unequivocally bring people together. I am proud to contribute to its popularisation with such a reliable partner. MelBet is not just about gaming, casinos, or sports. It is about team spirit towards involvement in the games, followed by highs and lows which are inevitable in the pursuit of success and victory. MelBet is an experience that brings us closer as a community and in setting our goals and achieving them. I am looking forward to starting our collaborative journey and the opportunities that we can create and explore for our growing game lovers,” Sherlyn Chopra said.
With this appointment, Sheryln joins other leading names, who represent MelBet in India and globally. MelBet believes that with her fearless approach to pushing boundaries, she embodies the innovative spirit that MelBet values – which led to her appointment. This partnership is expected to strengthen MelBet’s connection with sports enthusiasts, gamers and those passionate about the game, opening up new opportunities for clients and helping to further expand the brand’s reach across South Asia.
Asia
Savvy Games Delegation Joins More Than 30,000 Fans for Tencent and Hero Esports’ Honor of Kings Grand Finals in Beijing
The inaugural King Pro League Grand Finals 2024, the biggest esports event in China, drew more than 30,000 fans to a sold-out Beijing Workers’ Stadium on Nov 16. A delegation from Savvy Games and the Esports World Cup Foundation also joined the iconic event hosted by Chinese tech giant Tencent and the largest esports company in Asia, Hero Esports (formerly known as VSPO).
HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chairman of Savvy Games Group (Savvy); Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy; and Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, attended the tournament where two top Chinese esports teams competed for the inaugural Holy Dragon Cup and a record prize pool.
A total of 70 million rmb ($9.8 million) was awarded to the top 12 teams who advanced through the rounds of the six-week-long tournament. The final showdown was between Chengdu All Gamers and Chongqing Wolves, where Chengdu All Gamers emerged victorious in a best-of-seven series and took home 22 million rmb ($3.1 million) in prize money.
King Pro League, the premier esports league for Tencent’s hit game Honor of Kings, is the biggest esports league in Asia. Honor of Kings is the world’s most popular mobile game with more than 100 million daily players. Hero Esports has been the organizer of KPL tournaments since the league was first launched in 2016.
This year marks the inaugural KPL Grand Finals, which replaces the Honor of Kings International Championship for Chinese Honor of Kings competitors and features the top teams from across China, one of the biggest esports markets in the world with the most players. Events were held at arenas in Chengdu, Hangzhou and Changsha, with the Grand Finals event being held in Beijing.
The popularity of esports is growing rapidly around the world, encouraged by government support in a number of countries and new products and technology. According to a Frost & Sullivan Report, the market size of the esports gaming industry has experienced a significant increase at a CAGR of 15.2% from US$29.8 billion in 2017 to US$52.6 billion in 2021, and is expected to increase further at a CAGR of 12.1% from US$57.9 billion in 2022 to US$102.4 billion in 2027.
The report also shows that the number of gamers globally has experienced a significant increase at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2.3 billion in 2017 to 3.1 billion in 2021, and is expected to further increase at a CAGR of 5.5% from 3.3 billion in 2022 to 4.3 billion in 2027.
Danny Tang, CEO and Co-Founder of Hero Esports, commented: “Hero Esports is proud to have been a part of the first King Pro League Grand Finals, which is an example of the high calibre esports tournaments that fans and players everywhere deserve. The strong enthusiasm we’ve seen for this event in its first year is a testament to the significant growth of interest in this sport and the support of our high-profile sponsors. The atmosphere in the arena was electric and we congratulate the Chengdu All Gamers in winning the inaugural Holy Dragon Cup.”
Hero Esports, formerly known as VSPO, is a leading player in the global esports industry, collaborating with major game developers and global brands and organizing tournaments for players and fans across the world. It is the biggest esports tournament operator in Asia, having hosted 86 tournaments in the region in 2023, of which 62 were in China, compared with a total of 77 tournaments in 2020, of which three were overseas. The company recently announced the Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s new premier international esports tournament featuring multiple titles.
Sponsors of the King Pro League Grand Finals 2024 include Meituan, Snapdragon and SAIC Volkswagen and iQOO.
Asia
Natural8 India gives poker enthusiasts across the country a chance to become Asian Poker Tour (APT) champions from the comfort of their homes!
Ever dreamt of testing your skills at poker competitively, against some of the best poker players in Asia? If you have, then let it be a dream no more! Natural8 India is giving poker players across the country, both amateur and professional, a chance to win up to 20 Asian Poker Tour (APT) trophies with the biggest-ever online APT series with millions in prize pools: the APT Online 2024!
Having kicked off on November 10, the APT Online 2024 offers players a chance to win up to 20 APT trophies, including three exclusive and bespoke APT Online Lion Trophies, and millions in prize pools across the Main Event, High Roller, and Super High Roller tables. Natural8 India will also automatically enter all players participating in any APT Trophy events into the Lucky Draw Flipout at no extra charge, giving five top players a chance to win the APT Main Event Live Packages.
Speaking about the event, Kunal Patni, Executive Director and Country Head, Natural8 India, said, “The APT Online 2024 is an unparalleled opportunity for poker enthusiasts in India to experience the thrill of competitive poker on a grand stage. We are thrilled to bring this prestigious series to players across the country, giving them the chance to not only test their skills against the best and compete for APT trophies and massive prize pools. Our goal is to make top-tier poker accessible to everyone, and we hope to inspire a new wave of talent to rise through India’s growing poker community. We are excited with the response so far and are looking forward to even more players, whether seasoned pros or just starting on their poker journeys, to participate in the exciting, thrilling experience that the APT Online 2024 is shaping up to be!”
With all this available with buy-ins as low as INR 1,100 and from the comfort of your home, what are you waiting for? Visit Natural8 India today and sign up for the table right here, and get a chance to compete against other poker enthusiasts and earn glory by becoming an APT Trophy winner!
-
Latest News23 hours ago
Make every pixel personal: Opera GX facelift lets you match your browser to your setup down to the smallest detail
-
Latest News23 hours ago
Casino Management System Market to Reach USD 29.09 Billion by 2032 | Enhanced Security and Operational Efficiency Drive Growth | Research by S&S Insider
-
Balkans6 days ago
EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers
-
Asia6 days ago
Mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong ready for China’s 15th National Games
-
Australia6 days ago
ACMA: Tabcorp Pays $262,000 Penalty for Illegal In-Play Bets
-
Latest News6 days ago
AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZITRO AND GRUPO OSGA TO PROMOTE THE LABOT INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
-
Latest News6 days ago
Week 46/2024 slot games releases
-
Latest News23 hours ago
Fast Track Celebrates Third Year as a Great Place to Work Certified™ Tech Company