AB Group targets eSports with Activision Blizzard deal

France’s AB Group has signed an exclusive deal with Activision Blizzard to secure TV rights for French-speaking Europe to the video games outfit’s franchises, which include eSports leaders Call of Duty, Hearthstone and World of Warcraft. The deal will also enable AB Group to launch its own eSports channel with Activision Blizzard content at a later date.

The French broadcaster and media group will initially create two three-hour programming blocks on one of its channels, beginning in December, that will be dedicated to eSports competitions based on Activision Blizzard’s franchises.

The deal also includes a provision that gives AB Group the option to launch an eSports channel that will serve as the exclusive TV broadcast platform for Activitions Blizzard programmes, in addition to content from other publishers. AB Group and Activision Blizzard will also work jointly on promotion and marketing initiatives to organise eSports events and competition in France.

Mediawan-owned AB Group said that the deal would give it a play in the growing eSports market with a strong appeal to millennials.