NEW YORK (AP) – Yahoo is adding a new and potentially lucrative component to its sports vertical: competitive video gaming.
The company on Wednesday announced the launch of Yahoo Esports, an online channel devoted to gaming, including expert commentary and interviews with top players. Esports will also feature articles, scores, team rosters, schedules, player rankings, calendars and statistics.
Esports is attracting some big names to the field who are seeking to dominate early. ESPN announced its own esports vertical this year.
The number of active Esports viewers worldwide in 2015 totaled 115 million, up nearly 28 percent from the prior year, according to Newzoo, which tracks industry data. Males aged 21 to 35 make up 38 percent of the active viewer audience.
Last year, global revenue in the industry jumped 67 percent to $325 million. Newzoo projects that Esports revenue will top $1 billion in three years. The 112 major Esports events held in 2015 resulted in an estimated $20.6 million in ticket revenues, Newzoo said.