REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that the culminating EA SPORTS Madden NFL 19 Championship Series event, Madden NFL 19 Bowl, smashed franchise media consumption records solidifying its place in the mainstream esports lexicon.
Madden NFL 19 Bowl’s Twitch audience peaked at 97,000 viewers, a 650 percent annual increase, and the stream generated more than 2.5 million views, an 850 percent year-over-year increase. The ESPN2 broadcast of the one-hour final had a total reach of 805,000 viewers, and combined Madden NFL 19 Bowl Twitch and ESPN2 broadcasts secured a 208,000 average minute audience during the final, which tracks average minute-by-minute viewership. To reach more Madden NFL and esports fans, the broadcast plan for Madden NFL 19 Bowl included Twitch integration, a primetime ESPN2 linear broadcast, strategic stream embeds through fan site partnerships and connecting through community channels.
The success of Madden NFL 19 Bowl comes on the heels of Madden NFL 19 Championship Series event successes as both the Madden NFL 19 Classic and Madden NFL 19 Club Championship also secured double digit growth in viewers on digital platforms. The success of the Madden NFL 19 Championship Series reflects the commitment of the National Football League to esports as a way to spread the passion around the sport of football and draw a deeper connection to the NFL, its clubs and players.
“Drini’s Madden NFL 19 Bowl victory in front of a record-setting audience elevates him into superstardom and accelerates our mission to make stars of all our players,” said Todd Sitrin, SVP and GM of EA Competitive Gaming. “This year was a monumental step forward for the Madden NFL 19 Championship Series and is a testament to the powerful role traditional sports and esports play in attracting a global audience of players and spectators.”
“We’re thrilled with all the results from the Madden NFL 19 Championship Series and congratulate Drini Gjoka on his win in the Madden NFL 19 Bowl,” said Rachel Hoagland, VP and Head of Gaming and esports for the NFL. “These events are a key piece to the NFL’s overall esports strategy and represent a very natural way to elevate our brand and engage the next generation of fans.”
Drini Gjoka dominated Mike Spoto 41-0 in the Madden NFL 19 Bowl and became the Madden NFL 19 champion, raising his Madden NFL Championship Series lifetime earnings to just shy of $200,000. This was Drini’s second Madden NFL Major victory advancing him to second all-time only behind Michael Skimbo – a three-time winner. Madden NFL Majors are the biggest tournaments of the year possessing the highest stakes and biggest prize pools.
Throughout the season, telling compelling stories was key for connecting audiences to the Madden NFL 19 Championship Series. Partnerships with The CW on the “EA SPORTS Madden NFL 19 Classic” entertainment special and with ESPN on the four-part “Road to Madden NFL Bowl” docuseries ignited fandom as competitor friendships, rivalries, triumphs and tribulations humanized their journeys.
Madden NFL 19 Bowl was enhanced through its connection to the Madden NFL 20 reveal as 2018 NFL MVP, Patrick Mahomes, was named cover athlete live on ESPN during its pre-event NFL Draft 2019 broadcast. Immediately after the reveal, the Madden NFL 19 Bowl aired a Madden NFL 20 segment highlighting the new trailer, revealed the Madden NFL 20 Ultimate Superstar Edition and granting viewers a special edition 98 OVR Patrick Mahomes Madden NFL 19 Ultimate if they watched the Madden NFL 19 Bowl on Twitch.
Madden NFL 20 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and will be available worldwide on August 2, 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation®4 and Origin for PC.
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About Electronic Arts:
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.
In fiscal year 2018, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.15 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
EA SPORTS, Battlefield, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
