BBC begins broadcasting esports – and a bunch of ignorant old farts aren’t happy

BBC Sport has announced that it will begin broadcasting esports, starting with a six-week run of the Gfinity’s Elite Series.

As part of a wider commitment to esports across the BBC network, BBC Three begins showing Street Fighter 5, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Rocket League matches at weekends from this evening at 9pm.

Although a traditional TV network jumping on the esports bandwagon isn’t necessarily new, the fact that it’s coming from a public service broadcasting network with nearly 100 years of history has certainly shocked some of its more conservative viewers.

Naturally, rather than sit down and sample some of this newfangled esports thing to see what it’s all about, some viewers have decided to take to social media to yell at the clouds:

What is it? A pretend game for people who can't make friends in real life.

How big is it? About as big as dungeons & dragons, similar fans

— WHU Scott (@whuscott) July 28, 2017

Sport?? Sad fuckin generation playing video games instead of gettin out in the fresh air

— james (@jlo_lcfc) July 28, 2017

Is my licence fee paying for this rubbish

— Malcolm Keeler (@keeler2015) July 28, 2017

Not really as fit as footballers

— Jacques⚽ (@jacques125) July 28, 2017

Q. why haven't you got real football or Boxing. A. Because you couldn't pay your staff their stupid wages. End the tax.

— christopher v jones (@v_christoper) July 28, 2017

Like most things now. Why do it yourself (exercise & exertion) when you can get someone else to do it for you?

— redgio (@siralexslad) July 28, 2017

Dad, is that you?

If you’re concerned about the level of commitment from the BBC, have faith. For one, the UKs best esports journalist, Mike Stubbs, is helping out in a small capacity.

Boom!

I'm working on this in a small way. I'll be live blogging the action from the arena over on BBC 3 for two weekends next month. https://t.co/ghYDYAtF24

— Mike Stubbsy (@MikeStubbsy) July 28, 2017

Gotta say I didn't think the news would be this widespread. Cool to see everyone excited about esports.

— Mike Stubbsy (@MikeStubbsy) July 28, 2017

You can watch the first live broadcast from the Elite Series July 28 at 9pm on BBC Three. You never know, you might enjoy it.

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