Pro-gaming shows on Eurosport draw 2.3m viewers

TV station Eurosport claims to have had 2.26 million different viewers of its Intel Extreme Masters pro-gaming show.

This is for both the Turtle Entertainment-made broadcasts to date, with the peak for a single episode being 1.3 million viewers. A third episode is due February 24, and both prior episodes are available for rewatching online.

The broadcasts cover Intel-sponsored competitive gaming leagues, with games involved including StarCraft II, Counter-Strike and Quake Live

"400,000 viewers more than in the first episode of our Intel Extreme Masters show is totally awesome and shows that eSports is not marginalized sports anymore. The average sports television viewer enjoys watching eSports," said Nik Adams, executive producer at Turtle Entertainment.

"We are looking forward to the broadcast of the next episode covering the Intel Extreme Masters events in New York and Kiev."

Added Vincent Le Goff, head of Programming for Eurosport, "the Eurosport Group remains committed to broadcasting innovative sports programming such as the 'Intel Extreme Masters' and we are looking forward to the next editions in America and Europe.

"Coverage of Intel Extreme Masters will extend across the Eurosport Group's leading multimedia platform, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy their passion on as many screens as possible."