IMG AND MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING FORM GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Companies Spearhead International Expansion of the Sport of Competitive Gaming
IMG Worldwide (IMG), the premier global sports, fashion and media company, and Major League Gaming (MLG), the world’s largest professional video game league and provider of cross platform online videogame competition, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership agreement to further the awareness and popularity of competitive gaming internationally.Under the terms of the agreement, IMG, utilizing the expertise of its IMG Media Group, will help build international brand awareness of MLG through distribution, programming and marketing agreements with select broadcast and broadband partners. IMG will work to increase traffic, convert users and drive media consumption across all MLG platforms especially in the gameplay area. The partners will work together to host regional championship events around the globe, identify new talent and expand the brand partnership platform to establish competitive gaming as a preeminent sport worldwide.
“Video gaming is the #1 activity among the 18-24 male demographic and global video game sales exceeded $50 billion in 2009,” said Michel Masquelier, President of IMG Media. “Gaming is truly a global phenomenon and we are very proud to partner with the market leader in the competitive gaming industry to elevate the sport to a new level.”
“Since our inception, our mission at MLG has been to bring competitive gaming to the legions of fans and gamers around the globe,” said Sundance DiGiovanni, co-founder and CEO, Major League Gaming. “We have now become the dominant competitive-videogame property and with IMG as our partner, we can further position MLG and gaming as a commanding sport worldwide.”
MLG exclusively targets the 40 million consumers in North America who have a passion for playing video games as a competitive social activity. It is recognized as the sanctioning body for both competitive professional and amateur gaming competition via in-person events and online activity.
MLG reaches roughly 4.5 million consumers each month online and attracts more than 4,000 new members daily at majorleaguegaming.com. The highly engaged audience interacts with the MLG brand via online tournaments, thousands of videos on MLG.tv and through MLG’s new social network for gamers. Additional functionality will be rolled out in the coming months both online and via mobile apps.
MLG also operates the multi-city Pro-Circuit tour, kicking off its 8th season in Dallas on April 1. This year’s tour will include competitions in six major U.S. markets that are streamed live online and more than $1 million in prizes and player stipends, making this the largest season in MLG history. In 2010, more than 600,000 unique viewers tuned in for the live broadcast of each weekend event and the complete tour delivered 11 million live streams. In addition, MLG Intellectual Property/Promotions offers some of the most successful retail and digital promotions targeting the young adult consumer through partnerships with world-renown brands.
IMG Media is the largest independent producer of sports programming in the world. Responsible for more than 18,500 hours of television and more than 20,000 hours of radio annually, the company has delivered in front of some of the world's largest audiences.
IMG Media is also the world’s largest independent distributor of sports programming, distributing over 19,000 hours of content to major global broadcasters annually. This content originates from more than 200 clients and events, including Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the ATP Masters Series, the R&A (governing body and organizer of The Open Championship), International Rugby Board (IRB), MotoGP, the National Football League (NFL) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). IMG Media operates from over 30 offices worldwide and has daily exchanges with over 4,000 key media contacts. IMG Media distributes across all forms of media, including TV, audio, fixed media, inflight and closed circuit, broadband and mobile. IMG Media also maintains the world’s largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.
Major League Gaming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Current season or competition: 2010-11 MLG Pro Circuit Offseason | |
MLG logo depicting a video game controller. | |
| Sport | Electronic Sports |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Commissioner | John Nelson |
| Country(ies) |  United States[1] Canada[2] |
| Most recent champion(s) | 2010 National Championship[3] Halo 3: 4v4: Final Boss Halo: Reach: 4v4: UoR SyA Modern Warfare 2 (PS3): 4v4: Influence Modern Warfare 2 (360): 4v4: EnVyUs Tekken 6: 1v1: ATL Anakin Super Smash Bros. Brawl: 1v1: Gnes '''''StarCraft II: 1v1: Liquid`Jinro |
| Most titles | Team: Final Boss: 4 (2004-05, 07, 10)[4] Individual: JWhoJCash: 3 (2007-09)[5] |
| Official website | MLG Website |
Contents[hide] |
Pro Circuit
The MLG Pro Circuit roster currently includes Halo: Reach for the Xbox 360 and Starcraft II for the PC.[15] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for the PlayStation 3 is the only online Pro Circuit title.[16] Chris Puckett (Puckett) is the lead Play-by-Play commentator for MLG Live Events. Scott Lussier (Gandhi) provides professional insight into many MLG broadcasts. Danish Maqbool (DMAQ) is the co-host of the MLG Pregame show. Julie Alexandria (Julie) hosts the Old Spice Report, as well as reporting from the sidelines at MLG Live events.[17]Major League Gaming also hosts a series of online qualifier ladders for the online-only pro circuit titles leading to the national championship. In the past, MLG hosted Super Smash Bros Melee tournaments during the 2006 MLG season and other games such as Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Tekken 5, Gears of War, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas, Shadowrun, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, Call of Duty 4, and Gears of War 2.
Each team must purchase a team pass to compete. Halo 3, Gears of War, and Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 teams include 4 members, while World of Warcraft teams include 3 members.[18]
On February 6, 2009, MLG Commissioner John Nelson addressed the MLG community about changing the format for the 2009 pro circuit. Semi-pro teams now have the opportunity to gain pro status. The rolling rank points system and the championship bracket were also modified.[19]
In March 2010, it was announced that fighting games will be returning to the pro circuit, with Tekken 6 exclusively on the PlayStation 3, and the return of the Smash competition with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. These two games will appear in the season opener in Orlando, along with the league's flagship, Halo 3, which will make its third season with the league. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be making its debut on the Online Pro Circuit on Gamebattles for PlayStation 3. Originally, the game was on both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Due to excessive hacking on the Xbox 360 console via JTAGs, it has been stripped of its "Pro Circuit" branding. Prize payouts will remain the same on both consoles. Playstation 3 players will be eligible to accumulate Pro Points. Those who have enough Pro Points at the end of the 3rd season of the Online Pro Circuit will be eligible to compete live at the MLG Nationals held in Dallas. Those competing on the Xbox 360 will not earn pro points and will have championships held online.[20] On July 30, 2010, it was announced that StarCraft II will be added to the Pro Circuit. It made its official debut at MLG Raleigh.[21]
The 2011 Season is set to feature 3 titles. Halo: Reach, Starcraft 2, and Call of Duty: Black Ops. Also, something that the MLG Pro Circuit hasn't seen since the 2005, Pool Play. The top 16 team will be seeded in 4 pools of 5 teams, where the 5th team would an undefeated amateur team. The team with the best record throughout pool play will advance to the winner's bracket semi-finals, securing themselves a top 6 finish.
