Netherlands-based esports organisation Team Liquid has partnered with Chinese content platform HUYA.
The deal will see select players live stream on the platform in aid of connecting with the organisation’s audience in China.
Players that represent Team Liquid in League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Apex Legends, Hearthstone, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will all be available to watch on HUYA.
Mike Milanov, COO of Team Liquid commented on the deal: “It’s taken us a year to find the right live streaming partner in China and we couldn’t be more excited to work with HUYA. Fans in China will be able to watch streams and have a direct connection with their favorite pros in a way that was impossible before now. We know that this partnership is the start of something amazing and hope that Chinese fans new and old enjoy everything that’s coming from Team Liquid and HUYA.”
Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng, a League of Legends player for Team Liquid, will be translated in real-time when he streams on the platform to “help bridge the gap between DoubleLift and his fans in China.”
Earlier this month, Team Liquid partnered with Blood Centers of America to allow its fans across to donate blood across the United States. The organisation is also partnered with Alienware, Monster Energy, Twitch, SAP, Honda, Jersey Mike’s Subs, HyperX, Fathead, and MAXNOMIC by NEEDforSEAT.
HUYA owns Chengdu Hunters, one of eight expansion franchises that joined the Overwatch League for its second season. It partnered with Chinese organisation Royal Never Give Up (RNG) to assist with operations of the team.
Esports Insider says: This is quite an unprecedented move in this industry. Some players that’ll stream on the platform are a whole lot more popular than others that have been selected so it’ll be interesting to see the viewership across the board for Team Liquid on the platform. Regardless of the potential disparity there, this move could well help to cultivate the organisation’s audience outside of the West – if it goes well, expect others to follow suit.
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