Esports ad revenues in the US are expected to exceed $200 million by next year, eMarketer has found.
The industry is projected to grow by 25 per cent this year from multiple revenue streams, including advertising, sponsorships, media rights, ticket sales and merchandising.
Esports viewership is forecast to rise by 18 per cent during 2019 (to 30.3 million) and by 50 per cent over the next five years (to 46.2 million).
eMarketer principal analyst Paul Verna said: “Esports was once an under-the-radar activity for enthusiasts of multiplayer online games. Just a few years later, it’s a multimillion-dollar business in the US, with implications for game developers, players, leagues, teams, live venues, streaming platforms, TV networks, audiences and marketers.
“Esports fans have unique characteristics that make them more elusive but potentially more lucrative for marketers. They are typically young, TV-averse millennials who have higher-than-average disposable income. They are open to marketing messages that are embedded in the esports experience, whether those are sponsorships, branded videos, in-game integrations, influencer-driven endorsements or even traditional ads.”
