Win.gg News Activision Blizzard talking with OWL, CDL teams about financial relief

Activision Blizzard talking with OWL, CDL teams about financial relief

gabhernandez Published 17/07/2020

Google Preferred Source

According to a report by The Esports Observer, Activision Blizzard is in talks with franchise owners of the Call of Duty League and Overwatch League about financial support due to the economic impact of the ongoing global health situation.

Though both leagues are active and teams are still able to bring in revenue through merchandise sales and sponsorships, teams are expressing concern over the loss in revenue stemming from the lack of in-person events. This has seen Activision Blizzard enter into talks with franchise owners on how they can alleviate some of the financial pressure they face. Among the talking points is delaying franchise payment fees, a major drain of capital for all the owners in the league.

Both titles were set to have a big year in 2020. The leagues were set to implement their homestand model, where teams would travel to different parts of the world in order to play in front of a live crowd hosted by the local franchise for every match.

In March, both leagues cancelled all homestands and moved to an online-only format. This resulted in a scramble for a few weeks as the league adjusted their scheduling and practice regimens, but all parties found a way to make things work and the league has been hosting matches regularly for weeks.

Read More:

The change to the business model made 2020 a crucial year to the success of CDL and OWL. While the esports business is still steadily growing, this year has proven difficult for franchise owners who have to pony up handsome fees in order to continue competing.

While the owners of the league teams are not experiencing a great time during this financial crunch, Activision Blizzard is doing well according to its stock prices. In the last six months, Activision Blizzard stock has gone from $61.24 to almost $80.

Lockdowns and unemployment have seen player counts spike and video game sales rise steadily.

Even though the leagues are still running games, viewership has been a constant topic of discussion. Both leagues premiered this year on YouTube Gaming, a switch from Amazon-owned Twitch. Overwatch League’s viewership has been significantly lower than in years past, leading some to question the long-term viability of the league.

Both leagues are in their infancy as far as business is concerned and they are far from alone in terms of being adversely impacted by the mass cancellation of public gatherings. OWL has its Grand Finals coming up in September, and CDL will have its Championship Weekend on August 29-30.

gabhernandez

About gabhernandez

View full profile

Read Also

Here’s a Rundown of the Major New Features and Improvements on Kick in August 2026

Here’s a Rundown of the Major New Features and Improvements on Kick in August 2026 Khizar Mundia Kick Director Ethan Wright has shared several new features that were introduced on the platform in August, also revealing that the team will continue to “push out great updates after great updates”. Livestreaming platform Kick is serious about introducing new features and making changes to improve the experience for both streamers and viewers. The Kick GO Live mobile app may be the standout addition the livestreaming platform has made in ...

xQc Talks Subathons and Reveals Why He Avoids Them

xQc Talks Subathons and Reveals Why He Avoids Them Khizar Mundia Félix “xQc” Lengyel is a major force in the streaming world, with his earnings being among the highest in the industry. However, despite this success, xQc has never done subathons — and the Kick streamer has revealed his reasons. Subathons have become an important element in the streaming world, as they are both engaging for viewers and beneficial for creators. Kai Cenat is arguably the most famous streamer who made ...

Here Is Every Major Announcement at Sony’s September State of Play

Here Is Every Major Announcement at Sony’s September State of Play Zachary Roberts The latest Sony State of Play was on September 3 at 9 am ET, and as usual, plenty of interesting games were announced and shown off. These, like a Nintendo Direct or Xbox Showcase, always end up being one of the most exciting times of the year for gamers. PlayStation often has great exclusives, so it's always worth seeing what they're working on. Interestingly enough, the first showcase wasn't game-related. ...

Kick Joins GTA RP Trend — Here’s What Partnership With Prodigy Entails

Kick Joins GTA RP Trend — Here’s What Partnership With Prodigy Entails Khizar Mundia The GTA RP community has been consistently growing, and Kick has just partnered with Prodigy, which displays the livestreaming platform’s interest in the scene. Here’s information about the partnership and why Kick may have entered the GTA RP scene right now. Kick has been trying to expand its esports base for some time, and its recent partnership with Riot Games has created ample opportunity for the platform. However, gaming remains ...

True Labs Set To Change Direction With New CEO

True Labs Set To Change Direction With New CEO Ben Boland True Labs started life as an experimental crypto casino in 2018 within the True Flip Group and has since evolved into an independent entity, boasting more than 40 crypto casino games and a network of supporting partners. Its evolution is set to continue with the appointment of a new CEO on September 1, 2026, with Sergey Glamazda confirmed as the Malta-based company’s new chief executive. Before joining True Labs, Glamazda ...

Rockstar Backs NoPixel V — What GTA 6 Means for GTA RP

Rockstar Backs NoPixel V — What GTA 6 Means for GTA RP Khizar Mundia GTA 6 is about to release, and Rockstar has decided that it is the optimal time to announce that its collaborative GTA RP, NoPixel V, is about to enter closed beta. Roleplaying has been a major element in GTA, with several gaming streamers building their entire brand and community around it. NoPixel Studios is one of the most famous names in GTA RP, and NoPixel V is the newest version, ...

Kevin Hart Set To Host Major Pragmatic Play Live Casino Event

Kevin Hart Set To Host Major Pragmatic Play Live Casino Event Ben Boland Kevin Hart is joining forces with Pragmatic Play to host a live casino event that looks set to pack a serious punch. Hart is famed for starring in blockbusters such as Jumanji and Ride Along, and also as a stand-up comedian who has delivered his uniquely comic observations to audiences around the world. He will now act live dealer host for a packed two-day event in November. Pragmatic Play is ...