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Halo 3: ESPN enters content agreement with MLG

By: Mark Cheben - Published January 14, 2008 at 9:50 AM EST - Writer Archive
ESPN has entered into a content agreement with Major League Gaming, the parent company of GotFrag.
ESPN will cover MLG's 2008 Pro Circuit events with streaming matches, pro player interviews, scores, and stats. Beyond just covering MLG events, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video gaming tournaments. ESPN will be on site reporting at MLG events and launching a “competitive video gaming section replete with all of the latest news, information and video as it relates to competitive gaming.”

The full press release is below:

ESPN Enters Content Agreement With Major League Gaming

ESPN.com, the leading online sports destination, today announced it has entered a content agreement with Major League Gaming (MLG), the leading professional video game league.
ESPN will serve as a primary outlet for news about MLG, providing extensive digital coverage of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit Competitions, including exclusive streamed matches, pro player interviews, and scores and stats. Additionally, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video game tournaments.

ESPN will be on site at each of the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit Competitions, reporting news from its own coverage booth for various ESPN programs and platforms, including ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband sports network.

Additionally, ESPN.com will launch a competitive video gaming section replete with all of the latest news, information and video as it relates to competitive gaming. The section will include background on MLG, interviews with marquee players, video from past competitions and the ESPN/MLG Top Ten, which includes regularly updated video highlighting top game play from MLG pros and players. ESPN.com will announce details of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit season in the coming weeks.

“ESPN is committed to serving our fans, and we recognize the growing popularity of pro video gaming,” said John Kosner, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN digital media. “Adding MLG content to our already comprehensive offering will help us continue to deliver the best news, information and entertainment to our growing gaming audience.”

“Pro video gaming offers sports fans everything they love about sports—great teams, break-out personalities and stars, and exciting competition,” said Matthew Bromberg, President and CEO of Major League Gaming. “MLG’s digital properties now reach over four million fans a month, and millions more follow the League on TV, mobile devices, and X-Box Live. We’re excited to build upon that audience with ESPN.”

ESPN.com’s video game section (ESPNVideogames.com) is the leading online destination for the latest sports gaming news, analysis, reviews, rankings, video, teasers, cheats, podcasts and the home of game simulations (including Madden, NCAA Football, NBA Live and NASCAR).

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc. is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company with over 50 business entities. Sports media assets include ESPN on ABC, six domestic cable television networks, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and other growing businesses, including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Products (wireless), ESPN On Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV.

About Major League Gaming
Major League Gaming is North America’s first professional videogame league, and its only sanctioning body for pro gaming. MLG operates the multi-city MLG Pro Circuit, presented by GameStop and powered by Xbox 360; produces compelling competitions for national television, broadband and mobile distribution; and exclusively represents the best gamers in the world. It also operates a thriving online community and online tournaments for millions of gamers at mlgpro.com. MLG, founded in 2002, is based in New York City and is privately held.

Major League Gaming is the parent company of GotFrag.

User Comments

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any pc games? future?

NICE anyway
2
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thats big news
suppppppppppp
3
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MLG is going towards the right direction..
The reason i use GF is to achieve 4 nerd stars and look E-cool.
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#3 yup
#forza
5
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Pretty neat! Now if only GotfragTV was on TV.
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Good news for the console playing Americans.
7
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#6 you'd be surprised how many britts are playing shadowrun early in the morning. :/
8
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good news :]
9
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awesome
10
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Awesome news.
GotFrag.com America's Army | #gotfrag @ irc.gamesurge.net
11
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I'm impressed.
12
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incredible news
13
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Nice of espn to pick up news coverage of MLG now how about cgs? xD

This comment was edited at 01/14/2008 11:14 AM
GUNIT~
14
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#7 The heightened sense of guilt, and threat of terrorism means we can't get to sleep at night :(

Still good news nevertheless.

#13 I think this is because of the CGS, so I can't imagine ESPN will cover the CGS any time soon.

This comment was edited at 01/14/2008 11:21 AM
15
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#13 one problem. MLG is good. CGS is bad and fake as hell. MLG has actual fans watching it. CGS has dumbys as fans with little blowup things
16
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MLG needs to pick up 1.6, CGS is terrible compared to MLG
17
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Cool
www.ohyeahgiggity.com - University of South Carolina
18
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lol #15
19
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Well, DirecTV owns CGS, and they actually broadcast their championships on The 101, one of DirecTV's channels.
GotFrag.com America's Army | #gotfrag @ irc.gamesurge.net
20
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CGS is bad, MLG knows what they're doing
21
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MLG is really doing good job. They make good choice, for the Halo 3 communauty and for the eSport developement. CGS .... LOL !

But why MLG is not on PC :(

This comment was edited at 01/14/2008 11:53 AM
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Yeah the CGS is bad, they give huge payouts to teams and have drafts at the Playboy Mansion.
Part-time GotFrag Writer - Fulltime Dr Pepper Enthusiast
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I watch ESPN every morning. Sweet.
#iLLest
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mlg is always doing big things.
I fart when I pee, how bout you?
25
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CGS is a completely different concept. Why even try to compare the two announcements? Great news for eSports, MLG and even GotFrag ;).
Shag: When he teases me, it hurts.
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this is pretty cool i guess

ESPN doesnt switch off of my TV, hopefully MLG will pick up 1.6 or something
#majin
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I'd love to see a true esports game in MLG but this is undeniably a step in the right direction for Americans at least. Can't wait for WC3L on Sky Sports :x
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first hd dvd, now cgs
lolol
we have to go back
29
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That's huge :|
#50|cal Gaming Manager / 50calibre.net
30
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First off, this is great news for eSports as a whole, especially for MLG. They now have a MAJOR network channel dealing their news and events to a wide range of customers.

Also to #15, 16, 20, 21, etc...

It's already been said. CGS, besides being a different concept altogether, already has a channel to broadcast on. While is specific only to DirecTV subscribers, as well as subscribers of other satellite networks, they do already have an outlet to broadcast (the 101). It's not as big as ESPN, but then again, compared to MLG, CGS is still in its infancy. MLG had to go through at least 2 networks (USA and G4) before getting this content agreement with USA. CGS may have to do that eventually, once it can branch out from DirecTV.
#teamdgf #eg
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Like man others have said, great for esports.

This comment was edited at 01/14/2008 2:10 PM
32
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#16 they are only focusing on console games :-)
MLG GoW2 Coverage -- UFragTV.com Administrator
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amazing
Rippin the Sicky BRAH!!
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good stuff
35
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I'm glad it's MLG and not CGS - MLG has the right idea, CGS does not.
"only a fool looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart." - ulysses everett mcgill
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cool for mlg
hi im hydez
37
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they better have virulence still casting it. If i see Stuart Scott saying BOOYAH for a halo kill, i'll just stab myself lol
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wowwowowowowow
39
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MLG NEEDS 1.6.
lLOLoLOloLoOLOloLolOLlLOLoLOloLoOLOloLolO...
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#39 has it.
41
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MLG SHOULD PICK UP QUAKEWORLD ^_^
42
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[b]LOL WHERE YOU AT CGS???[/b]
43
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#'s 39 and 4o, are you guys serious? By the looks of things, MLG is doing just fine. 1.6 needs MLG. I'm not a fan of console gaming, but the majority is.
pandemic - skinz #pandemic http://www.teampandemic.net
44
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I can't wait to watch 12 year olds stick each other with grenades and claim they're talented.

This comment was edited at 01/14/2008 5:16 PM
45
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#44
Ye, because there are so many 12 year olds on top 32 teams. So, so, SO many...

This comment was edited at 01/14/2008 5:49 PM
46
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#45 are you familiar with the term hyperbole?
47
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#46
Apparently more familiar than you are with the average age of h2 players.
48
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Sadly this pretty much means Call of Duty 4 comp. will be all console :-(
#thedot 1v1 champ!
49
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1.6 pleasee!!!
"Yet, another headshot..."
50
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1.6 Would be good,and/or COD4 and/or Quake 4

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