Many of the biggest traditional sporting events around the world boast of millions of viewers and fans, and with the biggest events of the year often drawing in huge viewership it didn’t seem possible for the longest time that alternatives could replace them – but traditional sporting has often followed a certain blueprint that can has in the past made it difficult to become widely accessible for those outside of a specific region, or outside of a certain paywall. Whilst the internet has somewhat been able to bridge this gap, there is still a clear divide as certain sporting events are locked behind a certain channel or broadcasting option, with little chance of change.
(Image from esportsobserver.com)
This is where esports has been able to shine, an area in which esports has been able to lead in online sport entertainment and even surpass the biggest titles that have previously only been shown on TV. It hasn’t just been one reason either, but many that has attributed to this shift.
Changing attitudes and acceptance of esports – The biggest has been within gaming as a whole becoming more popular amongst a wider audience – with newer titles like FIFA and the NBA becoming more popular in esports, fans of traditional titles have become more involved, and with the rise of other similar markets such as betting as the biggest games have a huge betting scene like those found at cs-go betting – both have enabled a wider crossover audience and have in their own way helped esports grow as much as it has.
Online free broadcasting – Where you may need a specific channel or to pay for a service to get access to some sporting titles, esports remains free – the biggest titles are shown on platforms such as Twitch, with the live chat functionality and widgets that are becoming widely used, it provides a high-quality broadcasting option at no cost to the viewer. This has allowed fans from all over the world to tune in at no cost, so long as they have an internet connection, and has bridged a gap that other sporting events haven’t done so yet. This change has also forced a change for other broadcasting options, as it is being made clearer by the day that online streaming is certainly looking to be the future.
International competition – Many sports don’t have a regular schedule for international competition – whilst there are the big events that come around now and then like the Olympics, and others in football like the Euro’s and World Cup, most play remains regional and that can sometimes lead to a little staleness in the competition. Esports typically has a number of tournaments throughout the year with many opportunities for international competition – it keeps competition fresh and shows the difference between regions.