French web content specialist group Webedia has announced the launch of an esports television channel which it claims will be the first of its kind in France.
ES1 is pencilled in to launch on December 1, subject to clearance from market regulator the CSA.
Webedia said it has already struck a deal with telecommunications group Orange for the channel’s carriage on its IPTV and fibre platforms, ahead of joining its pay-television service. Webedia added that other operators such as Bouygues Telecom are set to follow suit in January.
Programming on ES1 will include live or delayed coverage of esports competitions, magazine programming, expert sessions with French esports players and exclusive documentaries, the first of which will address the subject of women in esports.
Bertrand Amar, initiator of the project at Webedia, said: “The channel aims to cover the entire French esports sector, giving it access to a wider audience, and collaborate with the organisers of competitions as well as with market-leading producers like O'Gaming, Armateam, GamersOrigin or Zqsd.”