Esports on ESPN2: Not Quite a Game-Changer
The recent airing of esports on ESPN2 could have been a game-changer for the industry. With a reach of almost 91 million households in the US alone, this 30-minute program served as a preview for the Dota 2 grand finals at The International. However, it fell short of expectations.
Many viewers, including myself, didn’t tune in. The esports program was sandwiched between a rerun of “You Don’t Know Bo” and ESPN FC, followed by the “Crossfit Games.” It was clear that esports didn’t get the prime time slot it deserved.
While ESPN did stream The International 4 on Watch ESPN, it was also broadcasting other events like cricket. This shows that ESPN’s investment in esports is minimal. Rebroadcasting a stream that is also available on Twitch and the event’s homepage doesn’t bring much to the table.
Furthermore, Watch ESPN’s streaming numbers don’t even come close to those of Twitch. Last year’s edition of The International drew 4.5 million viewers to Twitch, while the World Cup broke online streaming records with 5.3 million unique viewers on ESPN and Univision. The addition of “ESPN” to a stream URL doesn’t automatically make esports mainstream.
It’s important to recognize that ESPN’s streaming site, Watch ESPN, follows the same rules as broadcast television companies. Premium content, including the biggest sporting events, often requires a cable subscription. Therefore, adding Dota 2 to Watch ESPN’s lineup doesn’t push esports further. It only benefits ESPN by driving more people to their site.
Esports fans need to send a clear message to ESPN. Blindly watching a 30-minute special sends the signal that they want more of the same. If fans watch the stream on ESPN3, they only open the door to locked out content for those without a cable subscription. Is that what they really want?
Instead of blindly supporting ESPN’s minimal efforts, let’s propose a different approach. What if ESPN came to Twitch? With the growing popularity of esports and the success of online streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube, ESPN would definitely benefit from joining forces with Twitch.
The bottom line is that esports is already on a path to national and international recognition. It’s growing at a rapid rate and attracting attention from major players. So instead of throwing ourselves at ESPN’s feet, let’s make them work for our viewership.
esports, ESPN, Dota 2, The International, streaming, Twitch, Watch ESPN, mainstream, online streaming