Esports broadcasting once borrowed from traditional sports — now it’s their future

When it comes to broadcasting major games, sports leagues are striking out with fans. While regular-season matchups draw in the usual crowd — including a slight increase for the NFL and steady viewership for the NBA — broadcast audiences for “big games” are dipping overall. Ratings for this year’s Super Bowl reached a 10-year low, the 2018 World Series dipped 23% from 2017, and the NBA playoffs are currently seeing a decline.

These big sporting events create opportunities for leagues to reach wider audiences, including viewers that may not necessarily be a traditional sports fan. However, leagues limit their reach by basing their broadcast strategy around traditional cable TV.