Electronic Arts and the National Football League have announced that they will be teaming up with both ESPN and Disney XD for broadcasts of the Madden NFL 18 Championship Series, including the final rounds of the Club Championship and the Ultimate League, making this ESPN's first ever long-term competitive gaming partnership.
The Ultimate League runs from February 2 for two and a half months until the NFL Draft on April 28, where six players will qualify by finishing in the top two at one of three EA Major competitions (Madden NFL 18 Classic; Madden NFL 18 Challenge; and Madden NFL 18 Club Championship), joined by the top 10 series points earners.
"The Madden NFL Ultimate League is purposely designed to make superstars of our best players, allowing viewers to develop player loyalties and follow competitor rivalries," said Todd Sitrin, SVP and GM of the Competitive Gaming Division at EA. "Through this collaboration with ESPN and Disney XD, we'll provide ongoing coverage for fans worldwide across a variety of ESPN and Disney platforms, but also digitally through our own Madden streaming and social channels."
"We're thrilled to continue and expand our relationship with EA and the NFL in not only showcasing to our audiences these world-class esports competitions for multiple years, but also using the myriad ESPN and Disney global platforms to tell the incredible stories of these competitors," added John Lasker, VP of ESPN Digital Media Programming.
Between the Super Bowl LII and the 2018 NFL Draft, Disney XD and the ESPN App will be the home for the Madden NFL Ultimate League, with the Madden Bowl (where the league champion will be crowned) coming live from ESPN 2. ESPN 2 will also broadcast an episodic series based on the Ultimate League as well, beginning in April.
For more on the championship check out the official website. Do you think this is a good partnership?