Rumble Gaming, the esports talent agency and media platform, announces acquisition of talent agency and law firm MKM Esports.

Canada-based Rumble Gaming, the esports talent agency and media platform, has announced its acquisition of talent agency and law firm MKM Esports.

The acquisition of Toronto-based MKM means more than 300 pro esports teams, players, streamers, content creators and venues are now on the books of Rumble Gaming, including esports organisations Lazarus and Rogue.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rumble Gaming, Michael Cotton, will continue in his role with the company, in addition to being Managing Director at Canada’s largest sports and media technology accelerator Zone Startups Sports + Media.

Discussing the news, Cotton said:

“As a fully integrated media company, we’ll have the capacity to produce top-tier esports content, build a centralized platform, and create additional distribution channels for our clients and partners,

“With the video game industry exceeding $100 billion in global revenue, sponsors, organisations, and investors are increasingly shifting their attention and budgets toward the world of esports and content creation.”

The firm stands to benefit significantly from the experience and commercial relationships of Len Asper, who will serve in an advisory role as Chairman of the Board. He is majority owner and Chief Executive Officer of Toronto-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment (Fight Network, Impact Wrestling, Game+, Game TV, and the Pursuit Channel), and his investment vehicle, Sygnus Corp, also backs Rumble Gaming.

Co-founder of MKM and new Chief Operating Officer of Rumble Gaming, Josh Marcus, explained:

“The esports industry has expanded to mirror the business models in traditional sports industries, including franchising rights, event management, player representation, and audience monetization through advertising. However, a market gap exists in media offerings at the intersection of digital and linear media and clients’ desire to reach their preferred target.”

While co-founder of MKM Esports and new President of Rumble Gaming, Evan Kubes, added:

“This merger gives us the resources necessary to scale and compete with any agency and media arm in the world.”

AYO.NEWS says:

There’s no doubt that Rumble Gaming now has access to the talent, business expertise and resources it needs to become a major player in the esports content field, but pulling it off still won’t be easy with so many rapidly growing competitors. It will be interesting to watch this one.

Australian motorsports championship Supercars partners with Gfinity Esports Australia to launch Gfinity Supercars Eseries.

Aussie motorsports championship Supercars has partnered with Gfinity Esports Australia, to hold the second season of the Supercars Eseries.

Set to launch in August, the second season of the series will see the Australian touring car competition go digital via online racing sim service iRacing, and will feature a dozen teams from a mix of Supercars-sponsored teams and other brands.

Supercars team Boost Mobile Racing has already confirmed its place in the Eseries, and is looking for drivers. Other teams are expected to follow suit shortly.

The Gfinity Supercars Eseries will consist of eight rounds, and will be broadcast live and free across Supercars and Gfinity channels including the Supercars Championship website, social media partners and Twitch.

Commenting on the project Supercars CEO, Sean Seamer, said:

“This is a great opportunity to embrace and engage the growing Supercars fan base and esports community. The partnership with Gfinity will help engage a new generation of fans and offer a pathway for sim drivers to showcase their skills in our cars against our best teams and drivers.”

While CEO of Gfinity Esports Australia, Dominic Remond, added:

“We are very excited to be partnering with Supercars and taking their esports strategy to a new level. Racing titles are exciting and easy to comprehend, with a significant crossover into real-world motorsport. It’s a unique opportunity for brands to engage both the massive existing audience in Supercars and rapidly growing esports community.”

Gfinity will be holding open qualifiers, with each of the twelve teams selecting an ‘elite driver’ – registration will be open in July.

AYO.NEWS says:

Motorsports is a natural fit for esports – with perhaps the closest relationship between the traditional and digital worlds. So, it’s great to see Supercars back for a second, even bigger Eseries season, and it’s a fantastic way to get new, younger fans engaged with the sport. It also gives the teams an incredible commercial opportunity to expand their franchises.

Chinese esports company TJ Sports announces partnership with Harbin Brewery for 2019 League of Legends Pro League.

TJ Sports, the Chinese esports company formed earlier this year by Tencent and Riot Games, has announced a partnership with Harbin Brewery for the 2019 League of Legends Pro League.

It’s the first time one of the four major LoL circuits has worked with an official alcohol partner, and will involve Harbin Brewery launching an exclusive promotional product named “Happy LPL Esports Can.” Special customised cans will be created for each LPL team, giving fans the opportunity to show support for their teams.

Anheuser-Busch-owned Harbin Brewery is no stranger to esports, having already made sponsorship deals with Invictus Gaming, Invictus Gaming Vitality, LGD Gaming, VG Gaming, and Newbee for the International, during 2016 and 2017.

Other LPL sponsors include Alienware, Doritos, HUPU, KFC, L’Oreal Men Expert, Mercedes-Benz and Nike (read more).

AYO.NEWS says:

Though other alcohol brands are getting involved with esports too, like New Belgian Brewing (DreamHack Austin 2018) and Warsteiner (Freaks 4U Gaming’s 99Liga), is it only a matter of time until some social crusading group starts saying “there’s no place for alcohol in esports?”

As AYO.NEWS reported a couple of weeks ago, in a similar vein albeit with non-alcoholic liquids, Spanish mineral water brand Font Vella is producing customised bottles based on the four esports teams it is now sponsoring (read more).

As you’ll see in this video, Harbin isn’t exactly too concerned about marketing to young people!