1. Bidstack, Gfinity and Venatus join forces
Utilising Gfinity’s web platforms, Gfinityesports, Realsports101 and Stealth Optional, Gfinity, Bidstack and Venatus will work together to provide solutions such as programmatic advertising, bespoke video, audio-based promotions and more. This will become another avenue for advertisers to reach the gaming and esports community.
2. Nielsen Reports 903K Viewers for NASCAR Esports Event
The Esports Observer reported that the 2020 NASCAR Pro Invitational Series achieved the highest viewership of any esport event in history. The event was broadcasted on Fox Sport across the US last week. The series had current and retired professional drivers taking part in simulators racing rigs from their homes.
3. The COVID-19 Effect: Gaming, Social Media and E-Commerce are on the up
Gaming, social media, e-commerce and news usage have all increased since the global lockdown. As billions of people globally have been forced to spend more time at home, an increase in these media channels would make sense. So how has this affected marketers and their media strategies? How will they now spend their advertising budget in this current climate?
4. Twitch joining the fight against Coronavirus
Twitch streamed a 12 hour live charity event, Stream Aid, with the hope of doing ‘what we do best, #stayhome, play games, and support a good cause’. The event had performances from Grammy award winning musicians such as Halestorm, John Legend and Lady Antebellum, as well as appearances from sporting heroes like British F1 driver, Lando Norris, 2 time Olympian Aly Raisman and American cornerback Darius Slay. At the end of the stream, the event had raised close to $3m and all proceeds were donated to WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
5. #PlayApartTogether: WHO highlights how gaming can help fight COVID-19
The gaming industry and The World Health Organisation (WHO) have joined forces to launch the #PlayApartTogether initiative. The aim of the initiative is to help flatten the pandemic curve and save lives by giving people advice on how to entertain themselves and practice physical distancing.
6. The sports turning to gaming during lockdown 
Over the past few weeks, we have seen sports teams, clubs and athletes from Formula 1, Football, NASCAR and Basketball transfer from the real world stage to the online gaming environment. The latest to join the party is the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) with their computer-to-computer simulations of fights in Electronic Arts’ (EA) 2011 game, Fight Night Champion. The BBC have been keeping a close eye on this growing trend and explain some of their findings in this article.
James Draper
