BLAST strikes BBC deal, Dele Alli named EXCEL ambassador | ESI Digest #19

Each week, ESI Digest breaks down the weekly happenings in the esports industry, making sense of things so you don’t have to. As well as being housed on YouTube, ESI Digest is available on all major podcast platforms and is also available in written form below.

This week on the ESI Digest, we cover BLAST Premier being broadcast on BBC iPlayer, OG Esports’ FUN88 partnership, Dele Alli joining EXCEL ESPORTS as an ambassador, plus ESL teaming up with DDB Worldwide.

BLAST Premier partners with BBC to broadcast on iPlayer

Danish tournament organiser BLAST has announced it has partnered with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to show its BLAST Premier Counter-Strike tournament circuit.

The digital platform will show over 120 hours of content across the Fall Showdown, Fall FInal, and the Global Final which takes place between November and January 2021.

OG Esports unveils FUN88 as official betting partner

Credit: OG

European esports organisation OG Esports has named Asian betting operator FUN88 as its official global betting partner following a multi-year agreement between the two entities.  

The partnership will be focused around OG’s Dota 2 roster, with the aim to create additional value that will contribute to the esports’ sustainability. FUN88 will aim to optimise community interactions and continue to grow the sport with pre-play, real-time, and post-match insights.

ESL secures global partnership with DDB Worldwide

Following on from DDB Worldwide’s launch of its dedicated gaming agency DDB FTW, global esports firm ESL has partnered with the company to elevate its associated brands.

The partnership aims to expand and strengthen ESL and DreamHack’s commercial portfolio by offering ‘creative territory’ to DDB’s existing global clients. Moreover, ESL will be cooperating with DDB FTW during the partnership.

EXCEL ESPORTS unveils Tottenham Hotspur player Dele Alli as global ambassador

Photo Credit: EXCEL ESPORTS

Tottenham Hotspur footballer Dele Alli has been named as EXCEL ESPORTS’ first global ambassador, after signing a long-term partnership with the esports organisation.

According to EXCEL’s release, the agreement looks to ‘bridge the gap between sports, gaming and esports’.

Alli’s role will include helping provide the team’s talent roster with experience and knowledge of performing at the highest level. As such, Alli will help EXCEL’s rosters develop a psychological skill set, which includes how to deal with pressure, overcome challenges and the ability to bounce back from setbacks


ESI Digest is part of ESI Network, a collection of podcasts encompassing the esports industry. For deep dives into the major areas of esports with subject matter experts, check out ESI Focus. For conversations with key personnel and major stakeholders in esports, ESI Insight is the series for you.



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