Twitter Takes A Page From Twitch with Eleague Live Stream

Twitter struck another live streaming deal — but this time, it’s a different kind of sports event: Turner and WME | IMG esports joint venture Eleague will be live streaming its “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” semi-finals and championship on Twitter this weekend.

Eleague’s semifinals will begin on Friday at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET, with Saturday’s finals to start at 1 p.m. PT. The event will also be live broadcast on TBS starting at 7 p.m. PT Friday, and 1 p.m. PT Saturday.

Twitter has struck a flurry of live streaming deals in recent weeks, securing the rights for weekly MLB and NHL games as well as select NFL games, live shows from the NBA and college sports from PAC-12 networks.

This marks the first esports event for Twitter, and the company is entering a crowded market by streaming this kind of content: Amazon-owned Twitch has long specialized in esports, and YouTube has been courting eleagues and games for some time as well. In fact, the Eleague finals will be live streamed on Twitch as well.

In December, Twitter first signaled interest in esports by hiring YouTube’s former director of gaming partnerships Rodrigo Velloso.

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