DreamHack and ESL Expand Reach with DouYu Streaming Deal
Landmark deal sees digital live streaming of major esports competitions in a Mandarin-language exclusive to DouYu
STOCKHOLM/COLOGNE – DreamHack, the premier gaming lifestyle festival, and ESL, the world’s largest esports company, today announced a one-year deal with DouYu, one of China’s leading streaming platforms with over 158 million monthly active users recorded this year. The ESL Pro Tour for StarCraft II and WarCraft III will be live streamed exclusively on DouYu in 2020 and 2021, covering standard Mandarin and other Chinese languages and dialects.
As part of the deal, DouYu has gained the exclusive rights to broadcast the Pro Tours for StarCraft II and WarCraft III live and On-Demand via digital media. The agreement between both parties also provides exposure for ESL and DreamHack brand partners in a promising and growing market and will maximize the visibility of one of the biggest esports tournaments within the ESL Pro Tour going forward.
“Here at ESL we are always looking for opportunities to extend our distribution portfolio to reach as many people as possible”, said Frank Uddo, Senior Vice President Global Media at ESL. “DouYu is a premier streaming platform and this deal, for the StarCraft II and WarCraft 3 ESL Pro Tours, marks a significant step in our ambitions to provide the best viewing experience for Chinese-speaking fans all around the world.”
“Our partnership with ESL and DreamHack strengthens our hold as a premium live-streaming platform in China,” said Cheng Chao, COO at DouYu. “ESL and DreamHack have served esports fans globally for many years, providing fans with the best gaming experience and fostering an esports community like no other. As we see a natural interest in RTS esports in China, partnering with ESL and DreamHack is the best possible scenario for our viewers.
Today’s streaming deal follows April’s announcement that saw ESL and DreamHack enter an exclusive streaming deal with Twitch. The deal confirmed major esports tournaments streamed in the English language within ESL Pro Tour for CS:GO, Dota 2, StarCraft II and WarCraft III, exclusively on Twitch in 2021 and 2022.
"China is, and will be even more in the future, an important market for DreamHack,” said DreamHack Co-CEO Roger Lodewick. "The Chinese Gen Z gaming and esports audience is growing and we want to continue being part of that. Thanks to this new partnership with DouYu, we will be able to offer an exceptional esports and gaming experience for all of our Chinese-speaking fans.”
About ESL
ESL is the world’s largest esports company. Founded in 2000, ESL has been shaping the industry across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline esports competitions. The company operates high profile, branded international leagues and tournaments under the ESL Pro Tour including ESL One, Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL Pro League, and other premier stadium-size tournaments, to more clearly define the path from zero to hero. ESL also produces the ESL National Championships, grassroots amateur cups, and matchmaking systems, creating a world where everybody can be somebody. With offices all over the world, ESL is leading esports innovation on a global scale through the combination of global ESL competitions, amateur leagues, publisher activations, and more. ESL is a part of MTG, the leading international digital entertainment group. about.eslgaming.com
About DouYu
Douyu.com, established in 2014, is the first and the largest live-streaming video sharing platform in China. DouYu has rich operating experience and mature technical support, to ensure the best user experience for its 158 million monthly active users.
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