This renewed focus on Counter-Strike delivers exclusive content on Spotify and elevates the experience of those tuning into ESL broadcasts in Germany
| PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY – The partnership, which began in July 2022, allows those tuning into German ESL broadcasts to discover new and exclusive content on Spotify – The ‘Talking Counter’ podcast is brought exclusively to Spotify, bringing fans expert insights from the world of Counter-Strike – Spotify will also provide an elevated experience to those tuning into German broadcasts of ESL Meisterschaft and the ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike |
Cologne/New York, June 29, 2023 – ESL, a part of the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company, and Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service of its kind, are excited to announce the renewal of their partnership. The renewal focuses on Counter-Strike content as it continues to provide the esports community with simple and reliable access to their favorite audio experiences.
Together the brands will bring new and exclusive content to the Spotify platform such as the popular Counter-Strike podcast ‘Talking Counter‘ which is exclusively available on Spotify.
Fans can also expect to see additional esports and Counter-Strike content in the build-up to, and during events, such as Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne 2023, one of the most prestigeous esports events of the year. Through the partnership, both companies are taking more steps into expanding esports culture, offering viewers of German ESL broadcasts the opportunity to discover new and exclusive content on Spotify.
In addition to locally supporting IEM Cologne, the renewal of the partnership will bring a plethora of offerings to the ESL community. Spotify will act as the official partner for ESL’s Counter-Strike German National Championship (the ESL Meisterschaft), and will be a German broadcast partner for the ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike.
“Together with Spotify we’ve already been able to offer immense value and new engagement opportunities to the hugely passionate German esports community, and we can’t wait for them to experience this next phase in our collaboration,” said Benny Eichelmann, Senior Director Global Brand Partnerships at EFG. “As we head into an exciting new era for Counter-Strike fans we want to hone in on new and exclusive content that will delight hardcore Counter-Strike fans, whilst also continuing to build the connection between the esports-, audio-, and music worlds.”
“When it comes to thinking beyond our core business, gaming is – unsurprisingly – high on our list of strategic fields externally. This is why I am beyond excited that our partnership is heading in a next chapter, a partnership,” said Heiner Kulmann, Head of Marketing at Spotify DACH, “we believe, is particularly fruitful, because both sides understand the benefits of the partner and the added value they bring and the goal that unites us: expanding esports culture. Together with ESL, we are looking forward to giving Counter-Strike fans a home on Spotify, andthe opportunity to discover new artists and listen to podcasts like “Talking Counter,” which will be brought solely to Spotify soon.”
For more information, please visit eslfaceitgroup.com, or follow ESL FACEIT Group on LinkedIn. For more information on the ESL Pro Tour for CS:GO, follow ESL Counter-Strike on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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About ESL
ESL creates a world where everybody can be somebody. For more than two decades, we have been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation globally across the most popular video games, creating a comprehensive ecosystem with opportunities for players to go from zero to hero and for fans to witness the best stories esports has to offer. The ESL portfolio consists of high-profile products such as the ESL Pro Tour, Intel® Extreme Masters, the Snapdragon Pro Series, and many more, ranging from grassroots to global elite competitions. ESL is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading esports and video game entertainment company.
About ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.
About Spotify
Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music and podcasts. Discover, manage, and share over 82 million tracks, including more than 4 million podcast titles, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features for music including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free music listening experience. Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of more than 422 million users, including 182 million Spotify Premium subscribers, across 183 markets.