Endemol Beyond USA Launches New Digital eSports & Gaming Smasher Network Today
Smasher Kicks Off With Debut of Flagship Series “Legends of Gaming” hosted by YouTube Sensation Toby Turner and With a Cast of Over 7.3 Billion Collective Lifetime YouTube Views
Los Angeles(07 Oct 2015)
Endemol Beyond USA, Endemol Shine North America’s Premium Content Network, is set to launch its new eSports & gaming Smasher Network today with the debut of its flagship series “Legends of Gaming” hosted by Toby Turner, and the network has unveiled 7 new original series including “Rule’m Sports,” based on the hit UK series and hosted by YouTube star Jesse Wellens.
The announcement was made by Adrian Sexton, Interim President and COO, Endemol Beyond USA. Smasher Network marks the second digital-first network from Endemol Beyond USA, following the successful launch this past spring of ICON, the premium global lifestyle network creatively led by digital pioneer Michelle Phan that is launching in 11 territories globally.
Smasher Network will be available across more than 20 platforms, including YouTube, Roku, TiVo, DailyMotion, Amazon Fire TV, Verizon Go90, Vessel and also at Endemol Beyond USA’s OTT platform GetBeyond.US.
In addition to “Rule’m Sports,” new series set to launch on Smasher Network include: “Game Fame,” “We’re in the Game,” “Fantasy League,” “Pro v Pro,” and “Smashed Up.”
“eSports is trending globally and we’re excited to be at the tipping point with 'Legends of Gaming’ hosted by the mega-talented Toby Turner,” says Endemol Beyond USA’s Sexton. “Our premium networks’ strategy, starting with Icon Network and Michelle Phan, and now heading into Smasher with eSports and gaming, puts us right in the middle of one of the most passionate and intense fan bases in digital. Game on!"
Endemol Beyond USA is producing over 100 videos for “Legends of Gaming,” with 37 episodes of the premiere series hosted by YouTube sensation Toby Turner (aka “Tobuscus”). Pizza Hut is on board as the principal integration partner, as well as sponsors Razer and iBuyPower, who outfitted the stage with top-of-the-line equipment and custom gaming systems for the “Legends.” In addition, Endemol Beyond USA is producing another 37 segments of “Legends of Gaming: Game Play” showing the complete competition; and 37 companion pieces entitled “Legends of Gaming: Bloopers and Outtakes,” which gives fans an inside look at the antics that were a part of each episode. There will be cast profiles, win/fail videos and recaps, as well. “Legends” videos will post seven days a week on YouTube, across five months from October 7 through February 2016.
“Legends of Gaming” is based on the Endemol Beyond UK format of the same name, which launched in 2014 and is currently in its second season. The U.S. version follows four teams of two gamers who are coached by some of the biggest names in the gaming industry.
“Legends” talent roster collectively represents 57 million subscribers and followers and over 7.3 billion lifetime views across YouTube and other social media platforms. Coaches include Fatal1ty, Perfect Legend, HotShotGG and Hafu. Contestants include gamers The Jovenshire, Syndicate, Terroriser, TmarTn, OMGitsfirefoxx, iiJERiiCHOii, Lui Calibre and runJDrun.
The UK version of “Legends of Gaming” has attracted more than 32 million views and is the region’s fastest-growing gaming digital channel. The U.K. version is hosted by British digital gamer Ali-A and the format is currently being developed locally in Germany, France, Brazil and Asia.
Below are further details on the upcoming, new SMASHER series:
Rule’m Sports: Based on the hit UK series with top YouTube gamer KSI, Rule’m Sports is the show that turns all-star athletic tips, tricks and training challenges into hilarious comedic content. Each episode YouTube star Jesse Wellens (17 million subs) challenges himself to learn a new sport from top athletes.
Rule’m Sports: Offsides: A companion series to Rule'm Sports, Jesse Wellens conspires with celebrity athletes to prank some of their biggest fans.
Smashed Up: Top gaming and comedic talent dub in hilarious dialogue over video game “cut scenes” – the animated sequences featured throughout well-known and upcoming games.
We’re In The Game: An original competition series that fuses video games with the world of physical sports. One part battle of the YouTube stars game show, one part Wipe Out, this fun series pits gaming personalities and their teams against each other in real-life versions of popular video games.
Game Fame: The first reality series to give fans an inside look at the lives of the world’s most successful professional gamers and gaming personalities. Hosted by a top gaming pro-entrepreneur,Game Fame exposes what it’s like to get paid big to game.
Pro v Pro: Gaming and sports collide as pro athletes battle it out in video games. From NBA stars to NHL and NFL players, some of the world’s most famous professional athletes go head to head.
Fantasy League: An innovative take on the popular fantasy sports' league competitions, Fantasy League tests top digital talent and pro-gamers to draft their own ’fantasy’ lineups across multiple sports and video game characters.
ABOUT ENDEMOL SHINE NORTH AMERICA
Endemol Shine North America delivers world-class content and compelling storytelling to multiple platforms in the U.S. and across the globe. Endemol Shine North America is part of Endemol Shine Group, the newly launched global content creator, producer and distributor with a diverse portfolio of companies in the U.S. that are behind some of the most prominent hit television formats and series in the world. Its Endemol Shine Latino division oversees all Spanish-language sales and development in both the U.S. and Mexico. And subsidiary production companies include Authentic Entertainment, Original Media, True Entertainment and 51 Minds Entertainment. In addition, Endemol Shine North America has a strategic partnership with Ryan Seacrest Productions.
Endemol Shine Group’s companies in North America are behind hit series including Below Deck (Bravo), Bullseye (FOX), Big Brother (CBS), The Biggest Loser (NBC), Fake Off (TruTV) Hell on Wheels (AMC), Ink Master (Spike), It Takes a Church (GSN), Kingdom (DirecTV), Knife Fight (Esquire), MasterChef (FOX), MasterChef Junior (FOX), Restaurant Startup (CNBC), Swamp People (History), The Island (NBC), The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo), Steve Harvey (NBCU), T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle (VH1), Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge (CMT), Wipeout (ABC) and many more.
Endemol Beyond USA, one of the fastest-growing and award-winning digital networks of 2014, is part of the Endemol Shine Group. As a Premium Content Network, Endemol Beyond USA content is available across more than 20 platforms including YouTube, Yahoo, AOL, Roku, TiVo, DailyMotion and Amazon Fire TV. Endemol Beyond is the first Premium Channel Network with hubs in the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with plans to expand into Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. Endemol Beyond USA produces and distributes premium-quality online content starring influential talent such as Pitbull, Brittany Furlan, Drea De Matteo and Andy Milonakis across lifestyle, comedy, reality and music-themed digital networks. Together Endemol Beyond and digital pioneer Michelle Phan launched ICON, the first worldwide Premium Lifestyle Network. ICON is an online global destination featuring a prolific slate of original programming in beauty, fashion, wellness, DIY, food, human interest stories and travel. Visit GetBeyond.us