ESPN is ending its daily coverage of the $1 billion esports industry despite recognizing the audience growth opportunity the segment presents.
The company launched an esports-specific vertical in 2016, supplementing that with broadcasting events like the Overwatch League Playoffs and the 2020 League of Legends Championship Series Spring Split Playoffs. It will still look to broadcast esports, but editorial coverage will only be done occasionally.
News of the vertical shuttering comes less than a week after the network announced its elimination of 500 jobs and an executive shake up. The Walt Disney Company — ESPN’s parent company — reports its most recent quarterly earnings today.
