ESL, one of the most historic CS:GO event organizers and mostly known for organizing such premier events as IEM, ESL Pro League, and Intel Grand Slam, has made a major announcement regarding the streaming of its tournaments. The announcement confirms that, like other notable organizers like PGL and BLAST, ESL will now stream its events on both Twitch and YouTube.
This change came after the exclusivity deal between ESL and DreamHack with Twitch had expired. It also has come ahead of IEM Katowice, the first $1,000,000 S-Tier event of the 2024 season, which has already started. For those who missed the live matches, it is now possible to watch them again on YouTube for free. For quick access to results, statistics, and highlights, one can visit the https://cover.gg/matches/finished webpage.
In the following section, we will delve into the implications of this change in broadcast strategy and provide details on how to watch the upcoming IEM Katowice matches moving forward.
ESL’s Change in Broadcast Approach
In the past, the official English broadcasts of ESL’s CS:GO competitive events were restricted to Twitch due to a contractual agreement in place for 2021/22 seasons. However, with the end of this contract, ESL is now able to expand its reach to a broader audience by streaming matches on both Twitch and YouTube.
Previously, ESL had exclusive agreements with both Meta and YouTube, but it seems that these arrangements are not currently in place. The tournament organizer is now focusing on reaching the maximum number of viewers and is likely to achieve this goal in the near future.
Benefits of Streaming on Multiple Platforms
Having streams on both Twitch and YouTube has its advantages for both the gaming community and the tournament organizer.
From the Receiving End
The ability to stream ESL’s Valve’s professional fixtures on multiple platforms provides a number of benefits for fans. Twitch is a popular hub for live gaming content that has a large and dedicated community of eSports fans. This allows fans to be more engaged both with the content and with each other.
On the other hand, YouTube offers benefits such as easier access on smart TVs and lower bandwidth usage. This makes it an ideal platform for those who prefer to watch CS:GO content on a larger screen. Fans can also replay any part of a match instantly on YouTube, allowing them to relive their favorite moments or catch up on anything they may have missed.
From the Projecting End
By streaming on both platforms, ESL is also set to reap several advantages. First of all, it can connect with its community where they are and increase its reach to a wider audience. This expanded reach, in turn, can help to increase engagement and participation in the events.
In addition to brand recognition and exposure, it can also provide the tournament organizer with greater variety when it comes to monetizing the events. This may include advertising, sponsorship, and other revenue streams that may not have been available through Twitch only.
According to the ESL’s CEO and senior vice president of brand and media partnerships, Mark Cohen, the tournament organizer’s goal is to “connect with the community” and provide fans with a better viewing experience. He believes that live-streaming on multiple platforms will help grow and nurture the eSports community and better serve gaming enthusiasts worldwide.
Where to Watch IEM Katowice 2024
Fans of IEM Katowice 2024 will have more choices and flexibility to follow their favorite teams because they are able to enjoy the tournament’s live streams on two platforms – Twitch (main and secondary official ESL’s channels) and YouTube (ESL Counter-Strike channel). Without any doubt, this access is going to make it easier for them to stay up-to-date with the latest games and results.
Unless a new exclusivity deal is signed, this dual platform setup could be used for other upcoming CS:GO events, such as ESL Pro League Season 17, IEM Brazil, and IEM Cologne, among others.
