Disney+ has expanded its broadcasting partnership with the Korea eSports Association (KeSPA) to deliver comprehensive coverage of esports events leading into the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, where esports returns as a full medal sport with six gold medals across League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, Street Fighter 6, and more.
Partnership Expansion Details
This multi-year deal builds on Disney+’s existing Korean streaming rights, adding:
- Live broadcasts of KeSPA Cup 2026 (April-May), LCK international tournaments, and Asian Games qualifiers through 2026.
- Exclusive documentaries profiling Korean esports legends like Faker (T1), Chovy (Gen.G), and rising Valorant stars.
- 4K/HDR production with Korean commentary teams, reaching Disney+’s 200M+ global subscribers—especially strong in APAC markets.
The 20th Asian Games (Sept 21-Oct 5, 2026) marks esports’ third medal appearance (after Jakarta 2018, Hangzhou 2022), with Japan hosting across Nagoya and Aichi venues holding 50K+ fans.
Tournament and Medal Events
Six esports disciplines confirmed with medal counts:
| Game | Format | Gold Medals |
|---|
| Game | Format | Gold Medals |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 10-team bracket (Bo5 final) | 1 |
| Dota 2 | 16-team double-elim | 1 |
| Valorant | 12-team single-elim | 1 |
| Street Fighter 6 | 1v1 bracket | 1 |
| Mobile Legends | 8-team | 1 |
| PUBG Mobile | Squads | 1 |
Qualifiers run May-Dec 2025 via regional OQF events; Korea auto-qualifies as host alongside China, Japan. Prize pool exceeds $15M across all titles.
Strategic Impact
KeSPA President Joe Kim: “Disney+ brings Korean esports to billions, elevating Asian Games global prestige.” Disney leverages synergies with Marvel’s Spider-Man games, Star Wars titles in showcases. Expect Faker’s 5th Asian Games appearance, chasing gold after silvers in 2018/2022.
Broadcast Highlights
- Live schedule: All Asian Games matches streamed free-to-air in Korea (MBC), globally on Disney+ Hotstar.
- Interactive features: Real-time stats, player cams, AR overlays during LCK Worlds pathing events.
- Legacy content: 4K remasters of Faker’s 2013 Worlds run, Park “Reach” Joon’s Dota dominance.
source : www.weareresonate.com
