NBA 76'ers acquire Esports team Dignitas

[Blake]

Its happening. We will actually get to see eSports become mainstream.

http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/...-dignitas-apex

[Gogan]

Wow, that's... odd.

I love that esports is becoming more mainstream. I'm leery of them getting in bed with established media companies though -- and I count any NBA/NFL/MLB/etc team the same as FOX, CBS, ESPN, etc. I don't want to see a world where we have to subscribe to TV channel X in order to watch our favorite esport team or match. I think it's possible the cable conglomerates could be displaced with online streaming services like Twitch/Amazon/Netflix -- and the TV cable industry desperately needs to be shaken up -- but not if everyone sells out to them.

Look at the Oakland Raiders, for example. If they don't sell X number of tickets, they don't televise their game locally. That's a really shitty thing to do. There's no reason why similar things can't happen in the esports world once big money gets their hands on it.

[Cruci]

Soccer clubs have been getting into this recently also with Man U and Schalke buying up European groups.

I really don't care for big marketing organizations getting into the scene either. One of the cool things about the current state (I've followed Halo specifically since I was a kid) is how accessible it is to the average Joe. I'd rather see more organizations like Optic where the leadership is at least as passionate about gaming as they are their bottom line.

[McGrupp]

TNT has been airing eSports for months now.

[Fusa]

Originally Posted by Gogan

Wow, that's... odd.

I count any NBA/NFL/MLB/etc team the same as FOX, CBS, ESPN, etc. I don't want to see a world where we have to subscribe to TV channel X in order to watch our favorite esport team or match.

This is what the Koreans do with their Starcraft, its called KESPA (everyone hates it) they regulate everything, and like you said you have to subscribe to their network to watch the games or gtfo.

Most people HATE kespa but tbh, it is probably the only reason they still have an esport.

[Kz]

i think its TBS grupp they air CS:GO anyway maybe TNT does an esport also. and tbh i think its a good thing for the sport if they want to grow into a real sport they need media companies and shit to maintain it. the problem is people get bored of watching the same shit over and over. even i dont watch CS:GO like i used to. got bored of it. i watch the majors now only pretty much.

[Blake]

Team Liquid just got bought by a co-op of 3 teams

https://www.teamliquidpro.com/news/2...ic-partnership

[Kz]

all the bad teams are selling out :x