Why Activision Blizzard's esports data deal with Nielsen matters

Videogame maker Activision Blizzard launched Overwatch League, a structured, competitive league with 12 franchises for playing its mega-popular shooter game Overwatch, in January. The league was an immediate hit: 10 million viewers in its first week, with backing from the likes of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft and LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke, and sponsorships galore.

All the action streams live on Amazon-owned Twitch, which is reportedly paying Activision $90 million for the two-year deal. Overwatch League is seen as the pinnacle of esports, the term for live competitive video gaming.