Sky and ITV partner with Ginx to launch the UK's only 24 hour eSports TV channel

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https://corporate.sky.com/media-cent...rts_tv_channel

Sky and ITV have joined forces with Ginx TV to launch the UK & Ireland’s only 24-hour eSports TV channel, GINX eSports TV, with ITV and Sky expected to take minority stakes in the business to support its growth.

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.

Michiel Bakker, Ginx TV Ltd. CEO said: "GINX eSports TV aims to add significant mainstream TV exposure to the fast growing eSports ecosystem. Complementing online streaming, with an entertainment-led approach, the launch on Sky and the rebrand across all our 37 million households allows us to help new audiences discover eSports and hopefully gives core fans a fresh perspective. I am also delighted about the prospect of Sky and ITV joining our shareholder roster, it goes without saying that the combined media footprint and expertise of both presents a significant opportunity for us to make a bigger impact, faster.”

Emma Lloyd, Group Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Sky commented: “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.”

Simon Pitts ITV’s Managing Director of Online, Pay and Interactive said: “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.”

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This channel launches tonight for those interested;
eSports will be on sky channel 470.

At 8.30pm on Thursday, a special launch show from the channel's King's Cross studio will kick off the newly named station as we get to meet the team who will reveal what we can expect from the channel.

Straight after the half-hour special, we get to see our first live action as we head to Atlanta, Georgia, for ELEAGUE coverage and the CS:GO Week Five semi-finals.

As well as the ELEAGUE tournaments, fans can expect to see FACEIT's eSports Championship Series and Valve's Dota 2 'The International' competition as part of the coverage.

Friday's League of Legends coverage promises to be a thrill-a-minute ride too as one we catch up on Week 8 of the League Championship Series.

Other highlights include Sunday's live action from Wembley Arena. The team will bring us unique behind the scenes footage of the FACEIT ECS Season 1 Finals with plenty of highlights and special expert opinion.
GINX eSports TV set for Thursday launch | News News | Sky Sports

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Sky invests in Ginx TV
https://corporate.sky.com/rns.aspx?P...54f987ea817c6f

Sky plc ("Sky") today announces that it has invested £1.55 million in Ginx TV, the owner of the UK & Ireland's only 24-hour eSports TV channel, GINX eSports TV. ITV will invest an equal amount, and both companies will have the option to acquire further holdings. The investment follows the launch of the channel on the Sky platform in June.

GINX eSports TV showcases major eSports tournaments from across the globe, as well as unique, independent programming. The schedule includes coverage of Turner's ELEAGUE tournament, FACEIT's eSports Championship Series, and Valve's The International Dota 2 , which GINX eSports TV will is covering live from its new King's Cross studio. Other content partners will include Riot, Activision, EGL, Gfinity and more will be announced.

The best of GINX eSports TV is also available to Sky Q customers, via the curated short-form online video section of the Sky Q EPG.

Outside the UK & Ireland, GINX eSports TV is 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.

Emma Lloyd, Group Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Sky commented: "We're really excited to have followed up our commercial partnership with Ginx with this investment, which will help us deepen 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."

This investment follows recent Sky investments in the Drone Racing League, which will be shown on Sky Sports Mix, TRX, the online marketplace for TV rights and fuboTV, a sports-focused over-the-top provider. Sky has previously invested in a number of other pioneering technology companies, including online video aggregator PlutoTV, over-the-top video company TV4, sports social network Whistle Sports, IP streaming service provider Roku and the cinematic virtual reality company Jaunt.