Telefónica España signed a strategic agreement with esports event organizer ESL to develop "a platform with exclusive content" for the Movistar+ premium pay-TV offering, according to DIGITAL TV EUROPE. Telefónica is also investing in a dedicated esports content platform and "will also create" a professional esports club -- Movistar Riders -- in Spain. Telefónica said that the deal would place esports "at the core of its content strategy." The two companies will "jointly promote" both amateur and professional esports competitions in Spain to "attract the best" national and int'l talent. Movistar+ will also build a content creation platform for esports, promoted on digital media, social networks and TV. A new channel, Movistar eSports, will offer coverage of competitions including ESL One, ESL Intel Extreme and ESL Masters Series. The operator will provide up to 25 hours of live coverage of each of the 13 tournaments scheduled for this year. The channel will include additional exclusive content from the Movistar Game Centre -- a "new physical facility that will serve as the HQ of Movistar Riders." Movistar’s premium sports channel Movistar Deportes 1 and Movistar Deportes 2 will also offer coverage of esports (DIGITAL TV EUROPE, 1/11).
