EDITORS NOTE: After this article was published, I was later informed by Blizzard the following information:

Twitch is Overwatch League’s exclusive third-party streaming provider, with the exception of China. We’ll still be showing Overwatch League matches on our owned-and-operated channels, which include MLG.com, the MLG app, OverwatchLeague.com and the Overwatch League app.

We have also announced that ZhanQi TV, NetEase CC, and Panda TV are expected to be the official broadcasting platforms of the Overwatch League in China, providing livestreams, VODs, feature programs, and other exciting esports content to Chinese audiences.

The clarification was meant to inform that, while Twitch is a major broadcaster of the OWL, it is not the exclusive one and this article has been edited to reflect this.

It's no secret that Twitch is the premium place to watch video games live on the internet. YouTube, Facebook, and all sorts of other sites have their own streaming capabilities, but anyone who spends considerable time watching video games knows that Twitch is the place to be.

This opinion doesn't isn't just about brand loyalty or familiarity -- Twitch is simply the best option for the majority of viewers. With multiple quality options for viewers with poor internet connections, cheers capabilities and the one-of-a-kind organism that is Twitch chat, watching live video games on Twitch is an experiencing that currently can't be replicated anywhere else.


Good news for fans

Which is why today's announcement that the next two years of the Overwatch League (Seasons 1 and 2) will be broadcasted on Twitch is such a comfort to fans. While you can still watch the games directly on Blizzard's Overwatch website, the decision to make the broadcasts available on Twitch will surely maximize the number of viewers and their enjoyment.  According to the official announcement, exclusive cheermotes and other in-game items will be available to Twitch users thanks to the partnership.

OWL is not a time to experiment

Blizzard has experimented with streaming their esports events on platforms other than Twitch, and it has almost always been met with resistance. For example, Heroes of the Dorm, a collegiate esports events for the MOBA Heroes of the Storm, has for two years broadcasted on ESPN and Facebook live exclusively.

Both times the Heroes of the Storm community lamented Blizzards decision to forgo Twitch, citing awkward viewing conditions such as a max 720P resolution on Facebook and the loss of the communal feeling a Twitch-style chat provides. With this announcement, Blizzard isn't taking any risk with the success of OWL and will embrace the monolithic streaming giant that is Twitch.

You can watch the first matches starting tomorrow at  twitch.tv/overwatchleague.