Activision Blizzard is creating an internal e-sports division, the company announced today.
With e-sports and streaming becoming so ubiquitous, a move like this isn't surprising, and it's likely that other publishers will follow suit. What's more interesting are the names hired to run the new division: Major League Gaming co-founder and former president Mike Sepso will serve as the division's Senior Vice President, while Steve Bornstein, who has served as president and CEO of ESPN and the NFL Network, will be its Chairman.
Those are significant names: Major League Gaming was one of the first e-sports leagues in the West, and while its influence in the scene has declined drastically since its heyday, Sepso's name brings some prestige with it.
Meanwhile, Bornstein is a media juggernaut in the traditional sports world; his tenure at ESPN saw the creation of the X-Games and the foundation of the yearly ESPY Awards.
Activision Blizzard's press release didn't include many specifics on its direction, but Bornstein's hiring suggests a focus on the organization and distribution of viewing channels for competitive gaming. Under his leadership in its media division, the NFL has created a system in which all media related to professional football goes through its gatekeepers, and broadcast and merchandising rights are contracted out for massive amounts of money under strict guidelines.
