Support NeoGAF

[Blue Lou]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/d33b28b2-338c-4a11-847e-d08e77537132

Big announcement. We're going to bring you four hours of live esports coverage every weekend for the next six weeks.

In the first deal of its kind for the BBC (we like to be first), we've signed up the Gfinity Elite League Series One.

It's based around a new league featuring Street Fighter, Counter Strike and Rocket League.
So here's everything you need to know...

What is it?

One hundred and sixty pro gamers duking it out every week in front of a baying West London crowd for fame and fortune (£225,000 of fortune to be exact). Each competitor wears the livery of one of eight established eSports organisations and specialises in one of three games, representing a rough cross-section of the current competitive gaming landscape: a shooter, a fighter and... well, Rocket League.
After 10 intense weeks of clutch AWP plays, critical arts, and satisfying 'doinks', an overall franchise winner will be crowned along with three individual game champions.

What are the games?

Each game is granted its own day of competition. Fridays, from 9pm, are for the hectic team-format Street Fighter V bouts, and Saturdays are set aside for the slower, tense burn of tactical shooter Counter Strike: Global Offensive – from 9-11pm.

On Sunday, everyone kicks back and watches flying rocket cars play football for an hour in Rocket League from 5pm. Each game exudes its own appeal - from Street Fighter's characteristic adrenaline-fuelled, highly entertaining 'pop-offs' between players to the marathon of concentration required for a CS:GO victory.

You can watch and follow it all live on BBC Three or on BBC iPlayer.

It's not for me personally but interesting to see BBC's youth channel promote e-sports.

 

[Goldfishking]

Worth noting BBC 3 isn't on TV anymore. Its just online only.
Still always cool to see companies like the BBC get involved in esports.

 

[*Splinter]

BBC3 is not an insignificant channel, was expecting this to be 3am stuff

Fridays, from 9pm, are for the hectic team-format Street Fighter V bouts, and Saturdays are set aside for the slower, tense burn of tactical shooter Counter Strike: Global Offensive – from 9-11pm.
On Sunday, everyone kicks back and watches flying rocket cars play football for an hour in Rocket League from 5pm

Hope it's successful!

Edit: BBC3 isn't even on TV anymore? Well shows how often I watch TV I guess

 

[pretty done]

CS:GO in the UK seems strange but I hope it does well.

 

[Charles Brandon]

Apparently the Gfinity Arena is tucked in behind Fulham Broadway tube and Stamford Bridge

 

[Shifty]

That cheesy BBC-ass BBC wording.

So is BBC3 an online-only thing these days? I ditched telly years ago and haven't looked back.

 

[Venom.]

Cool stuff. I haven't watched a whole e-sports competition, the shoutcasters I saw on Microsoft's E3 & Gamescom stage was too OTT for me, although I recognise I might be a whisker older than the target audience! It's still good to see gaming diversify in different ways.

BBC say there are 3 games but doesn't mention the platforms:

1) Street Fighter V
2) Counter Strike: Global Offensive
3) Rocket League

 

[Ninja Dom]

That cheesy BBC-ass BBC wording.

So is BBC3 an online-only thing these days? I ditched telly years ago and haven't looked back.

Yeah BBC3 went online only in Feb last year. They also gave up their ability to show American Dad & Family Guy. Now the easiest way to watch BBC3 content is on iPlayer.

 

[BGBW]

Two Pints of Dew and a Packet of Doritos.

 

[kitsuneyo]

I will actually give this a try! Haven't watched esports before but BBC making it convenient helps.

BBC3 airs some pretty poor stuff though, so not expecting great presentation.

 

[MrCarter]

Nice. It's a shame BBC3 is not on TV anymore but it's good exposure here in the U.K.

 

[wetflame]

Yeah BBC3 went online only in Feb last year. They also gave up their ability to show American Dad & Family Guy. Now the easiest way to watch BBC3 content is on iPlayer.

Isn't that the only way to watch it?

 

[Sini]

BBC say there are 3 games but doesn't mention the platforms:

1) Street Fighter V
2) Counter Strike: Global Offensive
3) Rocket League

SFV on Xbone, CSGO on Xbox360 and RL on Switch

 

[Graphics Horse]

Today I learned BBC 3 still has a live schedule and isn't just a pile of iPlayer entries.

 

[Greddleok]

What the fuck else are they going to show? BBC3 has been dead for ages.

 

[Charles Brandon]

Does anyone watch TV live anymore anyway? TV to me is just a a bunch of download/stream options across Sky, Amazon and Netflix.
Apart from Sport.

 

[BGBW]

Does anyone watch TV live anymore anyway?

No. Every week they publish viewer figures that are all zeroes.

 

[Kayant]

Nice! Good to see more companies exploring it. RL should do well as it's the easiest to follow.

SFV on Xbone, CSGO on Xbox360 and RL on Switch

That'sdamngood.gif

 

[jordddddd]

This isn't news. They've Broadcast the LoL S5 world championship. I'm pretty sure they've done others as well.

 

[Charles Brandon]

No. Every week they publish viewer figures that are all zeroes.

Alright pal.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Does anyone watch TV live anymore anyway? TV to me is just a a bunch of download/stream options across Sky, Amazon and Netflix.
Apart from Sport.

Well, I mean, this is about sports, of a sort.

Otherwise while GAF does skew towards an audience much more willing to use online services, much of the general population does still watch stuff on TV, whether for practical purposes (like News) or entertainment. Groups like the BBC particularly benefit from how well established they are.

 

[UpDownLeftRight]

Congrats on the get for a non existent channel that was targeted at comedy but died with the BBC's sense of humour you piece of trash thieves.

 

[Spukc]

Worth noting BBC 3 isn't on TV anymore. Its just online only.
Still always cool to see companies like the BBC get involved in esports.

What a shame england is one of the last countries on earth with decent television.

 

[Kucan]

Does anyone watch TV live anymore anyway? TV to me is just a a bunch of download/stream options across Sky, Amazon and Netflix.
Apart from Sport.

Since BBC3 is now an online only channel, I suppose it is a livestream now. If you have Sky, it's either in the catch-up section under iPlayer or via the red button on BBC1.

 

[MrCarter]

What a shame england is one of the last countries on earth with decent television.

I mean, BBC3 was never that huge. It was mainly for teens and young adults so it kind of made sense when it wenr over to online only. Plus they have BBC iPlayer to catch up on any missed programmes.

 

[Venom.]

BBC say there are 3 games but doesn't mention the platforms:

1) Street Fighter V
2) Counter Strike: Global Offensive
3) Rocket League

SFV on Xbone, CSGO on Xbox360 and RL on Switch

I thought Street Fighter V was only on PC and PS4.

 

[TheRedSnifit]

I thought Street Fighter V was only on PC and PS4.

thatsthejoke.jpg