Minute Media, the leading global fan-driven sports media business, today announced the launch of its newest brand, esports platform DBLTAP. DBLTAP features interactive, short-form esports video and editorial content along with tournament highlights and exclusive access through partnerships with ESL, E-League, DreamHack and Fnatic, all with a focus on the global esports fan.
“As with our other platforms, DBLTAP will bring the world of esports to the fans in a way that only Minute Media can. With a focus on the narrative around the players and teams, and with our partnerships with some of the largest names in the industry, no one else can offer on-the-ground coverage to tournaments around the world and fan-centric authenticity to this extent,” said Duncan McMonagle, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Minute Media. “DBLTAP gives esports fans the next best experience to actually attending themselves. Our vision is to bring the fans closer to esports which we believe will help grow the broader industry overall.”
DBLTAP has been in soft launch mode for the last few months, with a focus on building English language content around the major tournaments, games and players. Traffic has reached in excess of 3 million monthly unique users organically and DBLTAP is already curating and distributing more than 60 pieces of content each day.
Built on Minute Media’s content technology, esports fans can contribute a variety of content ranging from video to interactive polls and quizzes to written content with the ability to drop in images, tweets, social media content and more. The rich media options enable fans to create the content they are most interested in seeing, providing the next best experience to actually being at an event itself. Fan-contributed content is then edited, curated and distributed by DBLTAP’s editorial team across relevant social channels. DBLTAP also offers fans a best-in-class approach to original editorial video, highlighting the stories behind the games, players and tournaments.
“Since 2004, Fnatic has been a front-runner in esports. Our teams compete globally in the highest tiers of esports competition and we count some of world’s most established esports Pro’s in our past, present and surely the future. The DBLTAP team is able to be right alongside us to share the team journey with the millions of Fnatic fans across the globe,” said Wouter Sleijffers, CEO of Fnatic. “From player profiles to in-depth video series, DBLTAP gives fans an opportunity to learn about some of esports untold stories and give them a platform to be close to the excitement.”
“We are taking a differentiated approach to what is currently in the industry in terms of coverage and investment,” said Rich Routman, President of Media Minute. “We believe our partnerships with some of the biggest names in the industry combined with our ability to unlock the power of the fan in this emerging content segment, will create substantial opportunities for audience and commercial development.”
The expansion to esports is a natural progression for Minute Media. User surveys have shown that 85 percent of Minute Media’s global audience is gamers, and 52 percent describe themselves as ‘avid gamers’, which allows for potential audience crossover. DBLTAP also creates opportunities for brands and marketers to communicate directly with fans and gamers via Minute Media’s unique story-telling approach.
Launched in late 2011, Minute Media is the world’s fastest growing digital sports platform, reaching more than 75 million unique users a month. Through its worldwide fan contribution platform, Minute Media delivers over 25,000 pieces of original, socially-driven and then curated editorial in 11 languages to users in more than 200 countries. In addition to DBLTAP, Minute Media owns football platform 90min and US sports platform 12up.
About Minute Media
Minute Media is a leading sports media and technology company, powered by authentic and socially driven content created by the fans, for the fans. Minute Media’s products enable fans to create, publish, share and distribute sports content around the world. This unique approach to covering sports fuses topical sports stories with everyday pop culture, creating a fresh new voice in the world of sports media. Minute Media’s family of sports destinations includes 90min, 12up and DBLTAP. The Company is backed by leading venture capital firms and strategic investors including Battery Ventures, Dawn Capital, Gemini Ventures, North Base Media, ProSieben and Qumra Capital.