Amazon MGM Studios to Bring Esports to Mainstream Audiences
By Movieguide® Contributor
Amazon MGM Studios is building content around the Global Esports Games and Esports pro athletes in an attempt to plug mainstream audiences into the professional video game scene.
“With the global interest in esports at an all-time high, we’re eager to share the stories and excitement surrounding the Global Esport Games, their athletes and the gaming lifestyle,” said Barry Poznick, GM of MGM Alternative. “This is the beginning of an epic collaboration with the Global Esports Federation to develop content that appeals to the worldwide audience of gamers and non-gamers alike.”
MGM Alternates other productions include SHARKTANK, SURVIVOR and THE VOICE. It hopes to apply the success of these shows to the world of esports.
With global esports worth an estimated $4.2 billion, the Global Esports Federation was created in 2019 to bring esports the distinction they deserve by promoting “the credibility, legitimacy and prestige of esports globally.”
“[This partnership] will amplify the voices of diverse esports athletes, showcasing their compelling stories to the world,” said Paul J. Foster, CEO of the Global Esports Federation. “Together, Global Esports and MGM Alternative will provide an innovative platform that will power growth and value for the world’s esports community.”
Akin to the Olympics, the Global Esports Games – the focus of MGM Alternative’s programming – brings together the best gamers in the world to compete for their country. Last year’s event featured 950 athletes from over 100 countries competing across four different games.
This year’s iteration of the games will take place in China in December. The video games that will be featured have yet to be announced.
Amazon’s MGM Studios has recently taken other steps to create content for a variety of audiences not typically served by the mainstream media. Earlier this month, the studio also announced it would be partnering with Jon Erwin to bring a new faith-based series to life.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Prime Video will produce faith-based content as the streaming service partners with Jon Erwin’s newly created Wonder Project to bring the studio’s first series, HOUSE OF DAVID, to life.
“HOUSE OF DAVID follows the once-mighty King Saul as he falls victim to his own pride,” the show’s logline reads. “A prophet prepares to overthrow him – anointing the outcast shepherd boy David as a second king. As Saul’s fury grows, David navigates love, violence and politics in the court of the very man he’s destined to replace. Two kings. One kingdom. The outcome is war.”
Though a secular company, Prime Video’s interest in faith-based content is understandable given the recent track record of Christian projects. THE CHOSEN and SOUND OF FREEDOM have both proven that there is a wide audience interest in faith-based projects that can provide blockbuster returns without a notable budget.
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