A new deal between Disney, Electronic Arts and the NFL is bringing e-sports tournaments for the popular Madden franchise to Disney XD and ESPN2.
The deal gives Disney and ESPN exclusive broadcasts of the coming EA Sports Madden NFL 18 Championship Series. The parties characterized the deal as the first “long-term multi-event competitive gaming agreement” struck with ESPN.
“Through this collaboration with ESPN and Disney XD, we’ll provide ongoing coverage for fans worldwide across a variety of ESPN and Disney platforms, but also digitally through our own Madden streaming and social channels,” said Todd Sitrin, senior VP and GM of the Competitive Gaming Division at EA.
The Madden NFL Ultimate League kicks off Friday, February 2 and continues through the NFL Draft on April 28th. The competition features 16 of the best “Madden NFL 18” in head to head action.
The “Madden NFL 18″ Club Championship tournament is expected to run on the same day as the Pro Bowl, Friday, January 26. Starting on Saturday, January 27, fans can watch ESPNEWS to see the quarterfinal match ups. Then fans can follow the Club Championship Final on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes on Thursday, February 1, live from the Super Bowl Experience in Minneapolis.
Also Disney XD and the ESPN App will become the weekly home to “Madden NFL 18” competitive gaming content. It will be bringing the latest action from the Madden NFL Ultimate League each week. The Madden NFL Ultimate League champion will be crowned at the Madden Bowl, live from the 2018 NFL Draft on ESPN2.
Also ESPN2 will broadcast an Ultimate League Episodic Series beginning in April. The show will follow the best players in the Ultimate League on Tuesdays at 9pm ET and runs through May 1. You will also be able to find episodes on demand on the ESPN App.
E-sports are ever-increasing in popularity especially among young audiences like the tween market Disney XD is aiming for. So popular in fact consideration is even being given to adding competitive gaming to the 2024 Olympics.