Ever since the inception of theOverwatchLeague (OWL), Blizzard Entertainment has hoped that it would manage to establish regional fan bases while also providing greater security for players and team owners by beingan eSports league that emulates the NBA and NFL. Of course, the publisher and developer also aimed to have OWL become as widely watched as possible, and it seems like a partnership with Disney and ESPN is about to help further that goal.
According to an announcement from Blizzard today, the company has signed a multi-year deal with Disney and ESPN to broadcast theOverwatchLeague on the network’s various channels, with regular season play and major tournaments appearing on such stations as ABC, Disney XD and ESPN 1, 2, and 3. As it so happens, OWL’s first official broadcast will be tonight, July 17, 2025 on Disney XD and ESPN 3 with the eSports league being in Day One of the quarter-finals.
Justin Connolly, the executive vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Disney & ESPN Media Networks said that theOverwatchLeague deal has facilitated what is “by far [Disney and ESPN’s] most comprehensive television distribution for an eSports event over a single weekend.” Connolly then went on to say, “This overall collaboration with Disney/ABC, ESPN, and Blizzard represents our continued commitment to eSports, and we look forward to providing marqueeOverwatchLeague coverage across our television platforms for fans.”
Naturally, Blizzard agrees with Connolly’s sentiments, as Pete Vlastelica, CEO of Activision Blizzard’s eSports Leagues, reiterated how the publisher and developer will utilize this contract “to bringOverwatcheSports to an even wider audience.” With this being the case, it will be interesting to see just how many people tune in to watch how OWL’s quarter-finals transpire and lead up to the Grand Finals at Barclays Center later this month.
Overwatchis available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
