ESPN 'Dota 2' Broadcast Success, 'The International' - Looking To Expand eSports Coverage

The world of eSports just scored a huge victory thanks to the ESPN broadcast of "The International," a championship tournament of the online role-playing game, Dota 2. Gamers and fans of video games understand that eSports are bigger than what outsiders think and that it truly can stand up against the more common sports on ESPN. The huge viewership for this broadcast on ESPN 2 has furthered ESPN's interest in the concept, so we could be seeing more of the like soon.

"ESPN were delighted," a source explained, according to The Daily Dot. "ESPN have seen enough recent successes with eSports and are about to double down.The numbers they hit with The International have only cemented the view that the time is right."

This insider said that viewership exceeded expectations and that Xbox consoles were the number one viewing platforms for the tournament.

"They are in advanced talks to bring that product to both ESPN web properties as well as their TV stations, and they are in the preliminary stages of looking at other games," the insider added, without naming specific titles.

We could probably expect titles similar to Dota 2 - like League of Legends - or other popular games that get huge viewership through other mediums (like streaming website/app Twitch). What games do you think will end up on TV? Let us know in the comments section below.

"ESPN3 has carried similar events in the past, including MLG and EA," a rep for ESPN said. "We recognized The International as an opportunity to deliver a championship event, but have not committed to any other eSports coverage at this time."

(via The Daily Dot)