Star Sports Network and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) have announced the acquisition of broadcasting rights for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2024.
As the official broadcaster, Star Sports will deliver coverage of the tournament, with commentary in English and Hindi. The EWC will be streamed on Star Sports’ YouTube channel and broadcast on linear TV via Star Sports First and Star Sports 2.
EWC has announced Honor 200 Pro as the official smartphone of the tournament. Under the partnership, the company handsets will be used as the official smartphones for all mobile competitions.
The tournament will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 3 July to 25 August. Over eight weeks, the EWC will feature the world’s top esports clubs competing in 21 of the most popular game titles, making it the largest multi-game esports tournament ever.
In 2022, BGMI Masters became the first esports franchise to be broadcast in India by the Star Sports Network, drawing in millions of viewers over its linear television debut.
Disney Star sports marketing head Vikram Passi stated, “Esports is rapidly emerging as a significant force, fuelled by India’s burgeoning gaming culture and its recognition on the global stage. The BGMI Masters’ Series, in just a few seasons, has firmly established itself as a premier tournament in India, demonstrating the immense potential for world-class esports competitions. With the upcoming Esports World Cup broadcast, we aim to expand our audience base, energise the gaming community, and foster greater acceptance of esports among non-gamers. This event will not only captivate dedicated esports enthusiasts but also engage a younger demographic across our platforms, driving a broader appreciation for the competitive gaming landscape.”
World Cup Foundation esports CEO Ralf Reichert said, “Our partnership with Star Sports brings the Esports World Cup to India’s massive and passionate gaming audience. Having witnessed this firsthand, I’m thrilled to nurture India’s growing esports scene and inspire future champions. With the world’s best competing in Riyadh, we hope to spark a new wave of esports fandom in India, and maybe even see an Indian team claim victory.”
The EWC will offer a prize pool of $60 million (Rs 500 crore), and welcome a new cross-game competition format, awarding prizes for individual game titles and club performances. The eight games in the tournament include Call of Duty: Warzone, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports FC 24, and PUBG.
Highlights include:
- Opening Broadcast: Week 1, 3 July at 10 pm on SS First and SS YT channel with Call of Duty: Warzone in Hindi.
- Weekly Schedule: From Week 3, starting 18 July, EWC will be broadcast at 9 pm on SS2 and SS First along with SS YT channel
- Hindi Commentary: Call of Duty: Warzone (Week 1) and Counter-Strike 2 (Week 3) will be shown with Hindi commentary on SS First along with and SS YT channel