http://store.steampowered.com/news/13929/

This is pretty damn huge news. The International has the largest prize pool in gaming history, and a higher prize pool than just about every singles sporting event out there. The fact that Valve was able to get this on a mainstream platform is a huge boon to the genre.

Reminds me of when ESPN 2 use to air Magic the Gathering Championships

Did they run out of X Games to broadcast? I'm shocked.

I guess games are finally REAL SPORTS, you guys. We did it.

https://twitter.com/alexrubens/status/489850980456861696

The actual game play will be on ESPN 3 with interviews and previews on ESPN 2. Sounds like a decent start and a great way to get a few more eyeballs on the event.

Won't they be streaming this on their own anyway? Anything ESPN related is huge but the article makes it pretty clear the only ACTUAL coverage will be on ESPN3 with a likely 30 minute preview show before the final. I suppose XBoxes have a Watch ESPN app? I feel like Playstation still doesn't.

Seems smart for ESPN, seeing how right now in American sports there is almost no way them to fill all of their channels and ESPN 3.

The only ESPN 3 thing has a bunch of crazy weird stuff, like ultimate frisbee and stuff

Oh goddammit, general forum.

D I G I T A L S P O R T S. We are now all officially athletes!

I can't wait for SBNation to write about it in their EPSN3 Chronicles series. Their recent ones on World Team Tennis and Germany vs. Hong Kong in sixth division lacrosse were quite entertaining. But it also sheds light onto just what sort of stuff ends up on ESPN3. The International is now on the same service as Louisville Slugger Major Baseball Championship 10 year old division, STIHL Timbersports Series Championship pool B, and College Bass Fishing regionals.

@gorillamopena: What about them professional quidditch players? That's still a thing right?

Pfft .... we did this 20-odd years ago.

We did it! Games are the rillest

Good job Valve!

hm. Not too shabby.

Will they be airing live? I mean, the casters sure seem to swear a lot...

Huh, that's cool. I'm not into Dota, but maybe I'll watch it.

OK, that's actually pretty big news.

Was hoping that it would end up on ESPN 8 The Ocho.

But really that's cool that it's getting any sort of mainstream coverage like that.

Reading some comments on other sites I think the "It's not a sport" people are more abundant than the "It's not a game" people.

I wonder what steam of the game itself they'll be showing. Makes more sense if it was the noob stream but that would also be kind of weird.

Well it sure beats watching World Series of Poker. Are they going to be showing Valve's version or are they going to have their own production?

I could see this vaulting best kept secret Kaci Aitchison into a national job.

Either way Smart Move by ESPN.

THIS IS ESPORTS.

Comedy.

ESPN 3 eh? Didn't even know that existed.

Good to see that Compendium money being put to use for more DOTES.

If it is anything like the other deep cut stuff I've seen on ESPN3 they will just let others handle the broadcast