JioCinema has joined forces with Krafton India, a prominent game development platform, to bring the electrifying Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) to audiences through live streaming.
The inaugural phase of BGIS 2023, known as “The Grind,” is set to kick off on August 17 and will run until August 20. This exciting competition will be followed by the commencement of the first round of BGIS 2023 streaming on August 31. Mark your calendars as the highly anticipated grand finals of the tournament are scheduled to be streamed from October 12 to 14 exclusively on JioCinema.
Krafton has received an overwhelming response with over 2,000 teams registering for the tournament. These teams are vying for a substantial prize pool of INR 2 Crores, with a staggering INR 75 Lakhs designated for the ultimate champion.
BGIS 2023 promises a captivating experience by offering both Hindi and English commentary for all preliminary matches and the grand finale. Hursh Shrivastava, Head of Strategy, Partnerships, and Acquisitions at Viacom18 Sports, expressed his excitement, stating, “Esports has transcended its niche origins and emerged as a mainstream phenomenon with an ever-growing fan base. We are thrilled to deliver this exhilarating experience to a wider audience across the nation with BGIS 2023.”
In a significant development, South Korean developer Krafton marked the return of its popular game, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), following a nine-month ban in India during 2022. The game, initially launched in 2021, impressively amassed 100 million registered users within a year of its debut but was subsequently removed from Google and Apple stores in compliance with a government directive in July 2022.
Krafton has encountered regulatory challenges in India, from its previous iteration, PUBG Mobile, to the current BGMI. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the company is committed to expanding its presence in India. Krafton recently announced its pledge to invest $150 million in the Indian gaming and entertainment startup ecosystem over the next two to three years.
Meanwhile, JioCinema, under Viacom18’s umbrella, continues to diversify its portfolio and has now ventured into esports streaming. Building on its success in streaming premium sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the past year, JioCinema has emerged as a strong contender in India’s thriving over-the-top (OTT) ecosystem.
