NBC Sports Partners with FACEIT and Psyonix to Bring Rocket League Tournament to Television
NBC Sports is joining the world of esports with the introduction of a $100,000 Rocket League tournament set to start next month. The network announced this exciting partnership through the Wall Street Journal.
Qualifiers for the tournament will kick off in July, with the main event being broadcast on regional NBC Sports channels in August, taking place on weekends. The final stages of the tournament will be shown on NBC Sports proper, as well as on broadcasters in various countries around the world.
Rob Simmelkjaer, senior vice president of NBC Sports Ventures, stated that esports has become impossible to ignore when considering new broadcasting opportunities.
Broadcasters and advertisers are actively pursuing the esports audience due to their young age, technological proficiency, and high level of engagement. However, reaching this audience has proven difficult due to their detachment from traditional TV and media.
The report mentions that although Turner Sports’ ELEAGUE and ESPN’s coverage of the Dota 2 International could be considered “tier 1” esports events, no such event has been broadcast on traditional television.
While Rocket League gained popularity on Twitch last year, it has yet to establish itself as a major esport. Nevertheless, developer Psyonix partnered with Twitch to create the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS), featuring a growing circuit of events with a total prize pool of $2.5 million.
NBC Sports, esports, Rocket League, tournament, FACEIT, Psyonix