Yahoo underlines the growth of competitive gaming with eSports launch
Yahoo is set to roll out a website devoted solely to esports, the growing trend (with swelling audiences) of video gaming broadcast in the style of traditional sports.
After the company closed 15 digital publications across its network last month, Yahoo has put its faith in the growing trend of gaming as a sport, looking to provide tournaments, news and statistics in the background of real events with a decicated news site.
Bob Condor, vice president of Yahoo Sports Media, said: “We’re approaching our coverage of eSports with the same tenacity and professionalism we always have with Yahoo Sports, News and Finance.
“Coupled with our experience in building great products, we’ve gone out and assembled an experienced and innovative content team that will cover esports from every angle.”
The convergence of both mediums is no coincidence, last year ESPN launched an e-sports site, acknowledging that more than 205 million people watched or played eSports in 2014.
On the other end of the spectrum, Twitch, the leading platform for live-streaming gaming, partnered with the NFL to broadcast Madden 16 footage series, again blurring the lines between sports and gaming.
The launch comes as Yahoo looks set to court buyers having reportedly issued confidentiality agreements to a list of interested buyers.