South Korean streaming firm Naver TV has secured rights to the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) in a three-year deal.
Naver, through its CHZZK service, has now been signed up as the exclusive Korean broadcast partner of the EWC, with the 2025 edition currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between July 8 and August 24.
Go deeper with GlobalData
South Korea, alongside various other Asia-Pacific countries, is arguably one of the biggest markets worldwide in terms of esports' popularity.
The Korean streaming service will provide live coverage of the action, with popular CHZZK streaming personalities on the ground in Saudi Arabia to provide commentary.
In addition, Naver is preparing watch parties and promotions for viewers.
Naver has said: "CHZZK, which has secured exclusive broadcasting rights in Korea for the EWC, will provide an immersive viewing experience for esports fans. We plan to establish ourselves as a comprehensive streaming platform that allows users to enjoy the tournament in even more diverse ways.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataAt the EWC, over 2,000 top players from more than 200 clubs and over 100 nations are due to compete against each other in 25 disciplines, including League of Legends, Counter Strike 2, Dota 2, Valorant, EA Sports FC 25, PUBG, Street Fighter 6, and chess, among others.
As well as individual competitions, there is an overall Club Championship where the best esports organizations compete for total points and additional bonuses across several titles.
The total prize fund attached to the upcoming EWC is $70 million, with over 2,000 players competing.
Last month, Australian commercial broadcaster Seven secured rights to the tournament, while earlier in July Germany's Sportdigital did the same.
This month has also seen India-based esports brand Nodwin Gaming appointed as the media rights distribution agency in South Asia for the EWC.
