The Electronic Entertainment Expo – more commonly referred to as E3 – is an annual trade show event for the video game industry held each June at the LA Convention Center. Video game developers, publishers and accessory manufacturers use the event to showcase new products or video game releases. Originally formed as an industry-only event, the expo has since expanded and opened its doors to the general public. Given the recent proliferation of esports, this was probably a good call. Tens of thousands of people attend E3 each year, but many more watch remotely thanks to the abundance of live streaming at E3.
Live Streaming at E3: What to Watch
Virtually every press conference at E3 is live streamed. If you can’t make it to the expo, tune in to catch live conferences from the major game and console developers, like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Bethesda. Nintendo will be broadcasting a pre-recorded event and Sony will be setting up camp off-site from the LACC.
Where to Watch E3 Live Streams
IGN holds the reins on E3 live streaming. They will be covering all the press conferences and virtually any live streamed event taking place on-site at E3. You can catch the live coverage on the E3 website, on the IGN website, on IGN’s Twitch channel – and pretty much any other IGN-related platform or channel. IGN’s live stream will also be carried on Twitter as part of a partnership arrangement.
Live Streaming at E3 by the Numbers
In 2015, E3 streamed a total of 41 hours of content over the course of the 3-day event, which peaked at around 840,000 concurrent views. Keep in mind that E3 gets around 50,000 to 60,000 attendees.
In 2016, E3 hit almost 1,000,000 concurrent views on their live stream.
In 2017, E3 streamed 5,500 hours of content in various languages across various platforms. They peaked at 1,103,602 concurrent views during the Microsoft press release.
Why Live Streaming at E3 Has Grown
The gaming industry has exploded in recent years, especially due to the rising popularity of esports. While E3 is a US-based event, gaming itself is not – it’s global. The Entertainment Software Association, who organizes E3, was smart to realize that live streaming E3 would expand their audience – not cannibalize it. The growing interest in gaming is evident by the expanded live coverage of E3 going back to 2015 as well as the increased live streaming viewership.
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We're glad you found this to be useful, Margaux. Let us know if there's anything we can help with.
I appreciate the tips on hiring a production staffing company to have more time to focus on the creative aspects of the project. Hiring a production crew is a tedious task, and can take up much of your time. We're currently working on a huge production, and I'll share this article with my boss so he'll consider on delegating the recruitment to a staffing company. I like that you mentioned that staffing company can ensure to have the right team onboard for the project. Thanks!
Todd: I have an ad agency in addition to our production company. We put one of our clients on OTT two months ago up in Nevada. Seems to be working! Thanks again for the work earlier this month. Rob
Hey Andrew, Any word as to whether or not the Jokers will be back for Comic Con this year? Please let me know. Thanks!!!
I'll be tuning in for sure!
Interesting blog post Andrew. For those who are nearly ready to cut the cord, but still want access to key channels such as ESPN, I'd recommend checking out Dish Network's new service, Sling TV. It provides access to a handful of channels for $20/month. https://gigaom.com/2015/01/15/sling-tv-details-price-devices-networks-resolution-bandwidth/
Go for it! I'll admit that I was a little apprehensive about pulling the plug at first, but honestly, the transition away from DirecTV has been seamless. The only missing link is live sports, but there are a few work arounds depending on what sports you watch. Good luck!
While I am part of the 55 year old demographic that still has TV boxes and does TV viewing, I do my viewing using DVRs and networked PCs playing video files from an in-home server. I too have noticed that I view a handful of shows on a regular basis and have found various other sources for these shows. And now it has gotten to the point to where I am seriously considering ending my very long relationship with DirecTV and going streaming. Working in the TV industry also helped to open eyes to this as well. This transition from "old" TV is coming and the networks (Les Moonves, I am looking at you!) had better plan for it.
You are spot-on that voters don't believe that Obama can accomplish any of his plans. I vote in every election, but I am disgusted with all the arguing and last minute actions that band-aid a problem for a few months, and then break out into new arguments. The comparison to the Superbowl was interesting because, like politics it is a great American sport. But, instead of Peyton Manning giving a State-of-the Union, the President's address should get better commercials!
You've left out a HUGE part of this story by not mentioning Howard Stern's effect on the Sharknado buzz! #siris-ly
I can almost hear the theme song from Jaws as I read your post!