A recent report published by Esports Charts, a prominent platform for esports viewership data, has shed light on the remarkable growth of esports tournaments in terms of hours watched. According to the report, the total number of hours watched for esports tournaments has witnessed a staggering threefold increase since 2017.
The comprehensive analysis primarily focused on comparing viewership statistics between 2017 and 2022. The findings revealed a substantial surge in hours watched, surging from 966 million hours in 2017 to a remarkable 2.8 billion hours in 2022 (excluding viewership from China), indicating an astounding growth rate of approximately 300%.
It is important to note that Esports Charts does not encompass viewership data from streaming platforms in China, which is currently the largest esports market worldwide. Measuring data in this region poses a significant challenge. Consequently, this omission notably affects the representation of esports titles with a substantial following in China, such as the popular game League of Legends.
Notwithstanding, the report demonstrates that esports hours watched have experienced consistent double-digit growth from 2017 to 2021, reaching a peak of 3.1 billion hours. However, in 2022, there was a slight decline of 6% to 2.8 billion hours.
The report attributes part of the year-on-year decline to India’s ban on leading esports titles. Nevertheless, this decline may soon reverse with the recent unbanning of prominent titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India.
Despite the overall upward trajectory of esports viewership, the sources of this growth have displayed significant variation and evolved over time.
Mobile esports viewership has emerged as the key driver of sustained expansion, with its share of total hours watched skyrocketing from a mere 0.5% in 2017 to an impressive 28% during the peak viewership in 2021.
This surge in mobile esports primarily took place outside the Western markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, where mobile-based esports holds immense popularity compared to PC-based titles. In Indonesia, for instance, the report indicates a staggering 5-6 times growth in the mobile esports audience over the past three years, largely driven by the widespread popularity of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
Furthermore, the report’s findings also suggest a natural shift in the titles that drive viewership growth. English-language broadcasts of the renowned “big three” esports titles— League of Legends, CS: GO, and Dota 2—witnessed a collective increase of only 13% in their share of hours watched, as per a Q1 viewership comparison between 2017 and 2023. Non-English language broadcasts likely played a significant role in bolstering the overall figures.
These findings highlight the dynamic nature of esports viewership, showcasing the increasing influence of mobile esports and the evolving preferences of viewers across different regions. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to witness how these trends shape the future of esports.
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