IBC 2019 will explore the possibilities, technical and commercial challenges of eSports

IBC eSports Showcase is an initiative powered by ESL, EVS and Lagardère, and will present a live sports tournament at the RAI Auditorium, leveraging a unique combination of world-class technology that puts viewers at the center of the action.

No one escapes the fact that eSports They are gaining greater prominence in the sector every day. Therefore, IBC 2019 aims to explore the opportunities, technical and commercial challenges of electronic sports with its first Esports Showcase that will take place on Tuesday, September 17.

IBC eSports Showcase is a initiative promoted by ESL, EVS y Lagardère, y presentará un torneo de deportes en vivo en el Auditorio de la RAI, aprovechando una combinación única de tecnología de clase mundial que coloca a los espectadores en el centro de la acción.

Los equipos del Campeonato Nacional de ESL de Alemania y España se enfrentarán en un torneo Counter-Strike en directo en la gran pantalla de cine en Dolby stereo.

Ahead of the tournament, as part of the IBC eSports Showcase, the most influential professionals in the world of sports will gather to explore the latest trends and developments, taking into account the business case for sports from stretch objectives, the challenges and opportunities for sports players and the technical delivery of sports programs.

Speakers include Chester King, CEO of the British Esports Association; Michiel Bakker, CEO -of GINX Esports TV Canada; Jonas Gundersen, CCO of North A/S; Henrik Nyhuis, Head of Ransports – ProSiebenSat.1 Sports GmbH,L; Jens Fischer – from EVS; Simon Eicher, Executive Producer and Director of Broadcast at eSports Services -ESL; Ryan Chaply, Senior Sports Program Director at Twitch; and Peter Emminger, VP Global Broadcast at Blizzard.

Globally, eSports offers younger audiences on digital channels unseen in traditional sports broadcasting, presenting a new income opportunity for gamers in the media ecosystem. Revenue will exceed $1 billion in 2019, representing 26.7% year-on-year growth, and is projected to reach $3 billion in 2022. Although sponsorship is currently the largest source of revenue, the fastest growing source of revenue is now media rights, which are estimated to reach 40% of total revenue in 2022.

Steve Connolly, Business Development Director at IBC, comments: "The sports-focused events and activities we presented at last year's show were incredibly popular, underscoring the unprecedented opportunities that the sports market represents. This year we have created a dedicated showcase with leading industry experts who will examine the state of the industry, separate hype from real value, highlight production challenges and much more. It will be a can't-miss day for everyone interested in esports."