Esports World Cup expands audience through WBD partnership

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and the Esports World Cup Foundation have agreed an all-encompassing partnership that will see extensive coverage of the innovative multi-genre esports competition appear on some of the biggest platforms and channels in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Harnessing the breadth of Warner Bros. Discovery’s global network, the partnership will lean on the business’ expertise via its Eurosport and CNN brands to help the Esports World Cup reach new audiences across the globe through a multi-platform approach that will include a host of innovations to help elevate esports coverage for mainstream audiences.

From Esports shows to brand new social media formats to a dedicated section on the Eurosport website, Warner Bros. Discovery will ensure every major story is told in full throughout the eight-week event.

Mike Rich, Head of Warner Bros. Discovery, Sports & Lifestyle International Brand Partnerships, said: “Esports World Cup is a competition where sport meets entertainment which aligns neatly with Warner Bros. Discovery’s ambition for our streaming services to become the premier sports and entertainment destination for consumers.

“With the popularity of esports continuing to grow, partnering with the Esports World Cup affords Warner Bros. Discovery a unique opportunity to reach new audiences and celebrate its fandom.” 

Ralf Reichert, CEO Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Warner Bros. to bring the excitement and drama of the Esports World Cup to an even broader global audience. This collaboration allows us to leverage their extensive network and expertise across Eurosport, CNN, and other platforms to create amazing content and reach new fans in ways we never could before. We’re confident that this partnership will not only elevate the visibility of the Esports World Cup but also reignite passion for competitive gaming worldwide.”

The Esports World Cup is a global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game structure that will pit the world’s top esports teams and athletes against one another for the largest-ever prize pool. Debuting in the summer of 2024, gamers, publishers, and fans from around the globe will come together in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to crown the world’s first Esports World Cup Club Champion. https://esportsworldcup.com/en

Kicking off on July 3, the Esports World Cup is an eight-week celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom that will draw the world’s top Clubs together to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The world’s best esports Clubs will compete in 22 competitions featuring the world’s top 21 games, in a global esports spectacle that will ultimately find and crown the first World Cup Club Champion. The qualified Clubs are competing for over $60 million in prize money.

Max and discovery+* will also offer viewers live streaming of selected sessions from the Esports World Cup.

Max is available across France, the Nordics, Iberia, Central and Eastern Europe; HBO Max is WBD’s streaming platform in Belgium and the Netherlands; discovery+ is the streaming platform for Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. They will be the only places to watch every moment of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live.