Today, League of Legends publisher Riot announced an unprecedented $300 million deal with Major League Baseball spin-off streaming company BAMTech, who will handle LoL broadcasting. Among other things, BAMTech will releasea streaming app for the esport and oversee tournament streams on Twitch, the Wall Street Journal reports
BAMTech, in which Disneyrecently bought a $1 billion stake, will pay out that hefty sum before 2023. In return, theyâll receive exclusive rights to stream League of Legends to an international audience and monetize the game. BAMTech-facilitated sponsorships and ad sales will help grow Riotâs revenue.
For context, in 2014, the NBA announced a $24 billion, nine-year deal with ESPN.
The specifics of the deal are unclear right now. Riot announced its interestin long-term investments in September so esports teams and players could enjoy some much-needed financial stability. Hopefully, some of the new money flowing through Riotâs coffers will find its way into the pockets of professional LoL players.
