A Tencent report expects China to boast 350 million esports users by '20.GETTY IMAGES
A Tencent report states that the Chinese esports market is "expected to grow to $1.5B" in '20, up from a market size of $760M in '17, according to Trent Murray of THE ESPORTS OBSERVER. In '17, according to the report, China had an esports user base of 250 million, which accounted for 64% of the 390 million global esports users. The global user base is expected to grow to 590 million in '20, with Chinese users growing to 350 million. This would account for 59% of global users, a 5% decrease in market share from '17. This is "likely" due to the fact that, while China should experience "strong esports growth," other regions will continue to grow as well. Less well-developed regions like India and the Middle East "could see significant growth in the next few years as established esports companies look to expand into those regions." In terms of esports-generated revenue, China was reported to be the second-largest market globally in '17. North America was first, with $258M in esports revenue, while China reported $104M. South Korea was ranked third with $49M in revenue generated from esports. Tencent's report also found that 36.6% of current users "began paying attention to esports in just the last two years." Demographic information revealed that roughly 24% of esports users are female and 29% of all users are parents, 59% of which are 31-40 years old. Finally, according to the report, "only 47% of viewers watch esports to improve their skill at a game" (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 6/26).
DRIVING INTEREST: BROADBAND TV NEWS' Chris Dziadul reported public funds are "likely to flow into esports," according to ESL Dir of Team & Federation Relations Jan Pommer, who is "optimistic that this would happen when there are national esports competitions." Ginx Dir of Content Partnerships Perry Smith said that his company's "whole business model revolves round creating esports for TV." He added that Ginx "had moved from gaming to esports and does everything with the viewer in mind" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 6/27).
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