XLEAGUE.TV

XLEAGUE.TV
Launched 16 May 2007
Closed 1 March 2009
Owned by TNWA Group
Portland TV (previous owner)
Picture format 576i
Country United Kingdom

XLEAGUE.TV was a broadcast production unit owned by The New World Assembly Group, creating and providing content on its primary subject of video games. It looks to cover competitive video gaming called eSports by providing coverage for organisers like the Electronic Sports League and United Kingdom eSports Association.

Contents

History

XLEAGUE.TV was launched on SKY channel 291, on 16 May 2007.[1]

The channel partners with EVS Broadcast Equipment, to use its live outside broadcast digital video production systems on television productions.[2]

Fresh new programming was announced to air alongside its existing line-up of shows. This was the result of community feedback from its viewers.[3]

The channel recently announced that it was partnering with fellow UK tournament organisers, Enemy Down to run a series of team games for titles including Counter-Strike: Source in the Packard Bell European Open, which the hardware manufacturer will be supporting with prizes.[4]

XLEAGUE.TV announced a brand alliance with the Alex Zane Breakfast Show on UK radio station, XFM.[5]

It was revealed that the channel had entered into an agreement with US men's entertainment channel MavTV, who had provided the niche sports content.[6]

The channel rebrands as Pulse, which would be made up of separately branded XLEAGUE.TV and MavTV blocks. The EPG channel number moved to SKY channel 208.[7] The channel still retains all the XLEAGUE programmes and website, prior to the rebrand.

XLEAGUE.TV, alongside the Metropolitan Police Service, TNWA Group, Packard Bell, London Borough of Southwark, Microsoft and Electronic Arts launch Project Gamerz, an initiative to bring eSports to the local community.[8].

In February 2008, the channel held its biggest prize funded event yet and was the biggest Halo 3 tournament Europe had seen so far. Since September 2007, the teams had been playing to fight to the top of the leaderboard, and in February 2008, the finalds were held in te studios and broadcast on the channel. The Incredibles (Now Team Dignitas - http://www.team-dignitas.net/) came 1st and won 5k between them. Team Devastation (http://www.devastationuk.com) came second and won 2.5k to share. This was the last tournament Xleague held and is still the biggest event europe has seen

Pulse continues with its "brand block" by introducing Martial Arts TV into the channel.[9]

Portland TV denies that XLEAGUE.TV has been axed.[10] The channel was in an consultation period and reassessing its content and format.

On 6 February 2009, it was announced that XLEAGUE.TV has been bought out by TNWA Group and that XLEAGUE.TV will become a productions unit to create shows for other outlets.[11] Its online operations has been merged with Enemy Down.[12]

The channel

When XLEAGUE.TV was previously owned by Portland TV, XLEAGUE.TV was an eSports channel concentrating on the competitive side of video gaming. In this respect, it differs from other examples of video game programming in the country, such as Cybernet, which had a broader remit, to cover video games in general. The channel is closely paired to its own self-titled website.[13] The online resource encourages community discussion, while also serving as a platform to organise tournaments and invitational events, some of which may later be screened, on the channel, via its flagship programme, The Match.

The XLEAGUE.TV website provided interviews with standout competitors, be they clans or individuals. General news updates are provided from the world of gaming, along with the ability to sign up to participate in league or tournaments, in the search of recognition, fun and prizes. Some games offer sponsored free-play, whilst others require a subscription for entrance.[14]

Users can upload videos they have created on the website as well, which may be featured in future programming. The site also offers a community podcast in the form of Talkback, in which XLEAGUE.TV community and channel staff offer their views on raised concerns, and fill the audience in as to upcoming highlights.

The channel went through a rebrand, where XLEAGUE.TV became a "brand block", alongside MavTV, Cultra and Martial Arts TV on Pulse, an entertainment channel previously on the British Sky Broadcasting satellite network in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Recent programmes and projects

Since its departure as a television channel, the production unit has produced or has been involved in the following:

XLEAGUE.TV and QuadV worked together to broadcast the United Kingdom eSports Association Season One finals over IPTV via QuadV.com and Enemydown.eu.

Past programmes

A wealth of shows were produced during the air of its television channel on the British Sky Broadcasting platform:

Aimed at a younger audience, the Casual Gaming Show was family orientated, offering a competitive but fun way of playing against one another.
Weekly gadgets and film review show, looking at the latest technological products and digital movies.
eSports Weekly is a news magazine, reporting on the activities and results of competitive video games competition around the world.
Game60 was a news programme which aired for sixty seconds and broadcast daily.
Games Night was a discussion and review show that aimed to discuss issues suggested for inclusion by members of the XLEAGUE.TV forums. Special guests were selected from a pool of recognized community members, pro-gamers and industry experts.
The show went on to win the Intent Media's Games Media Awards in 2008, taking the Games Broadcast category.[15]
Guru Larry's Retro Corner was a weekly segment, which covered a different title from gaming history.
H3O was a magazine style show dedicated to Bungie Studio's Halo franchise. The show covered news on the video game, such as the expansion map packs, and the competitive nature around the world.
Inside Gaming was a documentary, in which a reporter cover key events related to gaming. It often covers interviews from key people in the industry, as well as pre-release video game events, and eSports competitions.
Reviewmageddon was an alternative review show, which took a light-hearted, humorous look at video game titles. The show was originally fifteen minutes in length, but due to its popularity, the show was increased to a full thirty minutes after the fourth episode.[16]
Road To Berlin was a off-the-wall documentary and studio discussion series following potential UK champions of the Electronic Art's FIFA video game.
The Chart was a weekly video game chart show, compiled from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association video game sales charts.
The Edge was a video games guide on how to play a particular video game at a competitive level, generally narrated by professional eSports players.
The Match is a studio based show, delivering highlights from tournament and league play from eSports competitions.
Trailblazers showed the latest trailers from games to be released in the future.
Wez and Larry's Top Tens was a comedy based top ten series featuring the best and the worst of the gaming world.

References

  1. ^ “XLEAGUE.TV Launches Tomorrow”, Oli Welsh, gamesindustry.biz 15 May 2007 retrieved 11 February 2009
  2. ^ “XLEAGUE.TV Partners With EVS”, Jan Harris, IPTV Watch 30 July 2007 retrieved 12 February 2009
  3. ^ "XLEAGUE.TV Listens To Community", MCV 14 August 2007 retrieved 11 February 2009
  4. ^ "Enemy Down Partners With XLEAGUE.TV", yetanotherreviewsite.co.uk 12 October 2007 retrieved 11 February 2009
  5. ^ "XEAGUE.TV Announces Brand Alliance With XFM", marketingservicestalk.com 08 Nov 2007 retrieved 12 February 2009
  6. ^ "Content Deal With MavTV", marketingservicestalk.com 22 Jan 2008 retrieved 11 February 2009
  7. ^ "Gaming Channel Renames", digitalspy.com 13 February 2008 retrieved 11 February 2009
  8. ^ "Project Gamerz", MCV, 28 February 2008 retrieved 11 February 2009
  9. ^ "Pulse Unveils Martial Arts TV", Rob Shepard, Broadcast Now 8 July 2008 retrieved 11 February 2009
  10. ^ "Portland Denies XLEAGUE.TV Axe", Matt Martin, gamesindustry.biz 16 July 2008 retrieved 12 February 2009
  11. ^ "Standalone Media Business and Content Provider", developmag.com 6 February 2009 retrieved 11 February 2009
  12. ^ "Enemy Down Welcomes XLEAGUE Community", enemydown.eu 6 February 2009 retrieved 11 February 2009
  13. ^ "UK’s First Dedicated eSports Channel Launches", spong.com 16 May 2007 retrieved 11 February 2009
  14. ^ "Reveals Games For Showdown Launch", CVG 24 April 2007 retrieved 11 February 2009
  15. ^ "Games Media Awards 2008: The Winners in Full". Develop. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  16. ^ Heywood, Reece. 2008-04-10. "Reviewmageddon Extended To 30 Mins Show". Ve3tro. Retrieved 2009-06-16.

External links

XLEAGUE.TV shows
The Match · Wez and Larry's Top Tens · The Chart · Guru Larry's Retro Corner · Inside Gaming · Games Night · Reviewmageddon · Game60  · Trailblazers
Electronic sports competitions
Professional
Amateur
Governing bodies