Team Dignitas have become the first esports team to announce they’re offering live streaming opportunities on Facebook and Twitch for their players.
With most players and teams out there solely using Twitch, could this move encourage other big esports orgs like Dignitas to turn to Facebook in the future?
Dig says they’ve made the move to Facebook to reach new potential fans, benefit corporate partners and ‘lay the foundation for future multi-platform live streaming partnerships’.
It’s believed the org are set to announce new corporate partnerships over the coming months, one potentially in traditional sports.
“This is the direction in which the industry is going – providing new access points to fans.”
ODEE, Team Dignitas
This makes sense, given their owners the Philadelphia 76ers obviously purchased Dignitas to get a good return on their investment.
In the last three months, Dignitas say they have increased their streaming viewership by 50%, and will raise their streaming hours by 30% in the next three months.
More than 650 million people play ‘games’ connected with Facebook every month (though it’s not clear how many of these are signed up to casual games but don’t play them), and more than 1.86 billion people use Facebook overall.
Twitch, meanwhile, has 10 million daily active users.
Which players will be streaming first?
Team Dignitas League of Legends top-laner Chan-ho “Ssumday” Kim and jungler Sang-hyun “Chaser” Lee will hold the team’s inaugural Facebook Ask Me Anything and game stream.
- The first livestream will take place on Wednesday April 12th from 7pm to 9pm PT via Ssumday‘s and Chaser‘s Facebook pages
- Team Dignitas Overwatch players Elvinas “evokje” Padegimas from 4am to 5.30am PT on Thursday April 13th
- Patrick “wat7” Marwal from 3pm to 4pm PT also on April 13th
- Heroes of the Storm flex Kenn “Zaelia” Rasmussen from 5.30am to 7am PT on April 13th
Note: GMT is 7 hours ahead of PT
What did Facebook and ODEE have to say?
“Gaming communities are an integral part of the Facebook experience, and esports continues to be a popular form of video content on the platform,” said Guy Cross, head of games partnerships, North America, at Facebook.
“We are pleased to welcome Team Dignitas and the Philadelphia 76ers to the growing roster of professional esports teams, AAA game companies and entertainers that are engaging and connecting with their most passionate fans on Facebook.
“As part of the Sixers, Team Dignitas is one of the most progressive esports teams in the world, and we can’t wait to see all the creative ways they’ll interact with and find new fans on Facebook.”
Michael “ODEE” O’Dell, President of Team Dignitas added: “This is the direction in which the industry is going – providing new and increased access points to current and potential fans. We are proud to lead the way during this exciting time as we look to expand the most preeminent and impassioned fanbase in the world.”
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
