IRVINE, Calif. April 16, 2020 -- The Overwatch League™ today announced Xfinity as the Preferred Internet Service Provider of the Overwatch League in North America and the presenting sponsor of “Overwatch League Online Play” on the League’s English broadcast feed.
Overwatch League Online Play presented by Xfinity will feature a combination of elevated content and unique engagements that bring fans even more Overwatch action and special activations. All 20 teams will continue competing across their respective regions from the safety of their own facilities and homes under the Online Play competition structure, which is expected to encompass the remainder of the 2020 regular season.
The deal builds on Xfinity’s presenting sponsorship from the Overwatch League 2019 playoffs, including the Grand Finals, and brings together the nation’s largest Gig-speed network with the Overwatch League for the next two seasons. As the nation’s fastest internet and best in-home WiFi experience, Xfinity xFi gives gamers reliably fast speeds for the best online gaming experience.
Further, Xfinity’s X1 platform will deliver exclusive content for Overwatch League fans such as the video series, “In Case You Missed It.” The series will serve as a highlight and flavor piece, featuring top plays and the biggest broadcast highlights coming out of each weekend of OWL Online Play presented by Xfinity. Through its partnership with YouTube, Xfinity customers can also access live matches each week through X1 by saying “Overwatch League” into their Xfinity voice remote.
“We are thrilled to continue our work with Xfinity to give our fans and players the highest quality in streaming and gameplay,” said Brandon Snow, Chief Revenue Officer of Activision Blizzard Esports. “As the preferred ISP of the Overwatch League and with regular season play taking place online, Xfinity’s partnership is essential to successful broadcasts and online fan experiences.”
“Fast and reliable internet is essential for the best online gaming experience and our continued partnership with Overwatch League gives us the opportunity to showcase how Xfinity xFi delivers the most reliable and fastest speeds built for gamers,” said Matt Lederer, Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Comcast. “We’re excited to develop content and create viewing experiences that Overwatch League fans and Xfinity customers can’t get anywhere else.”
The 2020 Overwatch League season continues every weekend online. YouTube is the exclusive home for digital live streams.
About the Overwatch League™
The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional esports league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Overwatch® was created by globally acclaimed publisher Blizzard Entertainment (a division of Activision Blizzard—Nasdaq: ATVI), whose iconic franchises have helped lay the foundations and push the boundaries of professional esports over the last 15 years. The latest addition to Blizzard's stable of twenty-two #1 games,[1] Overwatch was built from the ground up for online competition, with memorable characters and fast-paced action designed for the most engaging gameplay and spectator experiences. To learn more about the Overwatch League, visit www.overwatchleague.com.
[1] Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distributors.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits, including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Overwatch®, the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the multi-franchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (https://www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment's track record includes twenty-two #1 games* and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's online gaming service, Blizzard Battle.net®, is one of the largest online-gaming services in the world, with millions of active players.
*Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distributors.
About Activision Blizzard Esports
Activision Blizzard Esports (ABE) is responsible for the development, operation, and commercialization of Activision Blizzard’s professional gaming properties including the Overwatch League™, the Call of Duty® League™, Call of Duty Challengers™, Hearthstone® Masters, StarCraft® II esports, Warcraft® III: Reforged™, and the World of Warcraft® Arena World Championship and Mythic Dungeon International, among others. ABE also operates Tespa, the leader in collegiate esports. It is ABE’s vision to be the most innovative, scalable, and valuable developer of global competitive entertainment.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest high-speed internet, video, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com ;for more information.
OVERWATCH, OVERWATCH LEAGUE and the OVERWATCH LEAGUE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other names are trademarks of their respective holders.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves the Overwatch League’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the collaboration with Xfinity and the Overwatch League 2020 season, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause the Overwatch League’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays, the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the Overwatch League and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither the Overwatch League nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of the Overwatch League or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.