Sky and ITV partner with Ginx to launch sports channel
Sky and ITV have joined forces with Ginx TV to launch eSports TV channel, GINX eSports TV, with ITV and Sky expected to take minority stakes in the business to support its growth.
“eSports is experiencing phenomenal growth and Ginx’s vision is to bring together two incredibly popular forms of entertainment – gaming and television – to create a unique, global proposition. We’re delighted to be partnering with Ginx and Sky as part of our strategy to target younger audiences, develop new programming genres and expand internationally.” – Simon Pitts ITV’s Managing Director of Online, Pay and Interactive
Aiming to bring the very best of eSports to videogaming fans, the channel, formerly known as Ginx TV, revealed its new identity today ahead of its launch on Sky channel 470 in the Sports section of the the Sky electronic programme guide, on 23 June. The channel was previously only available on Virgin Media channel 290.
GINX eSports TV will showcase major eSports tournaments from across the globe, as well as unique, independent programming. The schedule will include coverage of Turner’s ELEAGUE tournament, FACEIT‘s eSports Championship Series, and Valve’s The International Dota 2 , which GINX eSports TV will be covering live from its new King’s Cross studio. Other content partners will include Riot, Activision, EGL, Gfinity and more will be announced.
Outside the UK & Ireland, GINX eSports TV will be distributed to an additional 23 million households, making it the largest eSports TV channel in the world, reaching 37 million homes. With the rapid growth of competitive gaming and eSports as a spectator event over the past few years, the appetite and potential for an eSports TV channel has never been greater.
“This is an exciting new partnership which will help us develop our understanding of eSports and its audience. At Sky we are committed to bringing new programmes and channels such as GINX eSports TV to support and extend our leadership position in content. We look forward to working with Ginx and ITV on developing a channel which will capture the growing appetite for eSports.” – Emma Lloyd, Group Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Sky
ITV and Sky have previously co-operated in television ventures, running a number of now defunct channels including Men and Motors and Granada Plus.
