ProSiebenSat.1 partners up to launch esports league in DACH

7Sports, the sport business unit of Germany media company ProSiebenSat.1, has signed a strategic partnership with developer Riot Games and German esports organiser Freaks 4U to launch an exclusive League of Legends league in the DACH region.

The new league will launch in January 2020 and will be broadcast across ProSiebenSat.1’s linear and digital channels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Riot Games, the developer of the League of Legends game, and Freaks 4U currently work together on the Premier Tour esports event in the region. The 2019 edition of the Premier Tour will be the last before it will be reformatted into the new league in 2020.

Stefan Zant, managing director of 7Sports said: “Through strategic cooperation, we can increase their significance compared to the global leagues and play an important part in further professionalizing Esport in Germany.”

ProSiebenSat.1 has bolstered its esports portfolio over the last year, having agreed deals with the Esports event operator ESL, along with working with the German Football League (DFL) on its Virtual Bundesliga competition.