‘Counter-Strike' Is Coming To TV As Part Of eSports League Formed By WME|IMG And Turner

A new competitive eSports gaming league will have its competitions aired live on TBS on Friday nights for 10 weeks twice a year -- starting in 2016 with “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.” It is part of a new venture announced on Wednesday by Turner, a unit of Time Warner, in partnership with WME|IMG.

The eSports league will run over multiple seasons, with a regular season, playoffs and a championship. The first featured game will be Valve Corporation’s popular first-person shooter “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” -- although this is subject to change every year.

In addition to the weekly live broadcast on Friday, digital coverage -- including live daily competitive gaming content -- will be distributed Tuesday through Friday during tournament weeks.

Turner Studios in Atlanta is also set to become a major center for eSports on America’s East Coast and was specifically designed to showcase live gaming competitions.

“eSports is one of the fastest-growing entertainment genres among young adults around the world,” Turner Sports President Lenny Daniels said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to creating a tremendous live-event atmosphere.”

The facility will serve as the new league’s headquarters, and the primary operations facility for the live gaming experience.

The partnership between TBS and WME|IMG will also bring “premium live fan experiences” and “high-quality live digital event coverage” to the league.

“WME|IMG is constantly seeking new ways to help fans enjoy the eSports they love and attract more fans to the sport,” said Tobias Sherman, head of WME|IMG’s eSports division, in the announcement. “We’ve so enjoyed working with Valve and the teams through this endeavor, and we’re excited for the future.”