Disney+ signs a deal with the Korea Esports Association to stream several tournaments worldwide, including Esports Champions Asia Jinju 2026 and the 2026 League of Legends KeSPA CUP, plus pre‑Asian Games events. By securing worldwide rights, Disney+ aims to tap the billion‑dollar esports market.

First event runs April 24‑26, featuring Street Fighter 6, The King of Fighters XV, TEKKEN 8, eFootball and official streams for PUBG Mobile and Eternal Return, bringing both console and mobile competition under one roof. Centralizing viewing for Western fans moves content from free Twitch/YouTube to a subscription, raising cost concerns.

The consolidation mirrors traditional sports rights fragmentation and could hurt co‑streamers who rely on open platforms. Disney’s broadcast model likely limits the interactive features that made Twitch popular. For advertisers, the shift consolidates audience metrics but may limit reach across fragmented services, forcing fans to choose between a single paid home or juggling multiple free streams.