DISCOP Rolls Out Esports Initiative

DISCOP has announced a new initiative that will showcase the esports experience to broadcasters and brands, with the aim of bringing the world of professional competitive gaming closer to TV screens across Africa.

Together with DISCOMICS, and its partners across the continent—ICON Comics & Games Convention, Nairobi Comic-Convention, Pro Series Gaming and the African Animation Network—DISCOP will present a brand-new, broadcast-partnered initiative to explore the potential of esports in Africa. The program will also provide two video gamers a chance to take on the world’s best.

At DISCOP Johannesburg 2019, taking place from November 20 to 22 at the Sandton Convention Centre, a session entitled Bringing Video Gaming to Screens will be jointly hosted by Nick Wilson, president of the African Animation Network; Les Allen, president of the ICON Comics & Games Convention; and Thomas Imboya, president of the Nairobi Comic Convention and Pro Series Gaming.

The two-hour session will explore how the rise of competitive gaming will disrupt the traditional notions of sports broadcasting, with esports broadcasting evolving into something more interactive. Among the topics to be tackled are: the difficulty of broadcasting video gaming competitions, the growth of physical venues for esports, how technology can make esports more interactive and comparisons to traditional sports.

Patrick Zuchowicki, president of DISCOP, said: “The world of sports entertainment is changing, and esports is the star player. DISCOP is waking up to video gaming competition’s potential. We will help broadcasters and content producers learn more about this new ecosystem to woo audiences. Not just gamer addicts. But everyone from 9 years old to 45.”

Nick Wilson, president of the African Animation Network, added: “Depending on the way they watch esports, audiences and their friends sitting in the same room are getting something different out of it. It’s a different interaction model around video games than it is around traditional sports, which have a much higher barrier. We are still at the beginning of esports broadcast and a lot of competitions are not properly set up to be captured on video. But the rise of competitive gaming in Africa reveals pent-up demand from a new generation of African gamers and we can expect more games to come to screens.”