$300 million US dollars. That's the minimum BAMtech will have to pay Tencent Holdings (Riot Game's parent company) for a deal that involves streaming, monetisation, and distribution of League of Legends until 2023. The popular MOBA will be getting its own streaming app to supplement streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, although the content will remain free for the time being (although Riot is not against the idea of producing "premium content" in the future).
As for BAMTech, they intend to get that $300 million back and more via advertising and sponsorships. Talking with Wall Street Journal, Riot's esport director Jarred Kennedy stated the following:
"Our goal has always been to build League of Legends into a major global sport. We want our sport to be funded by itself and we think this deal is going to help us get there."
What do you think of this deal?