Pac-12 Announces Creation of eSports Competitions

Pac-12 CEO Group announced on Wednesday that the Pac-12 Network would begin broadcasting eSports competitions starting in 2016-17, per Pac-12.com.

Conference commissioner Larry Scott spoke about the decision to enter the eSports realm:

"

eSports is a natural fit for many of our universities located in the technology and media hubs of the country. Pac-12 Networks’ commitment to innovation as well as its natural tie to our universities and established media platform make it the perfect organization to develop the framework for eSports intercollegiate competition.

"

According to the press release, the Pac-12 universities will form eSports teams, and "the competitions will include head-to-head matchups in studios as well as a tournament in conjunction with a Pac-12 championship event."

The games that will be played have yet to be determined, though games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 remain popular in the eSports world.

As eSports continue to grow in popularity, traditional media companies are taking notice.

Turner Sports, for instance, will begin broadcasting Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Friday nights on TBS in a venture called ELEAGUE. ESPN has broadcast eSports and now has a section of ESPN.com dedicated to eSports. Activision Blizzard bought Major League Gaming in January 2016 and announced it wanted to create a television channel dedicated to broadcasting eSports.

So it's not surprising that the Pac-12 is dipping its toes in the eSports waters. The formation of college competitions was a logical step for the growing world of eSports—Robert Morris University, for instance, already has a video game program, offers scholarships and has a varsity League of Legends team—and it seems likely other conferences will follow the Pac-12's lead, especially if the conference has success with its latest venture.

Editor's Note: Turner Sports is Bleacher Report's parent company. 

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.