XLEAGUE.TV
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| Xleague.TV | |
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| Launched | 16 May 2007 |
| Owned by | Portland TV |
| Picture format | 576i |
| Audience share | 0-0.05% (February 2008, [1]) |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Website | xleague.tv |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | (on Pulse) Channel 208 |
| Eurobird 1 | 12643H 27500 2/3 |
XLeague.TV is a UK based satellite television channel which airs as a block on Pulse (Sky channel 208), featuring coverage of E-sports. In this respect, it differs from other examples of videogame programming in the country, such as Cybernet, which had a broader remit, to cover videogames in general. The channel is closely paired to its own self-titled website. The online resource encourages community discussion, while also serving as a platform to organise tournaments and invitational events, some of which may later be screened, on the channel, via it's flagship programme, The Match.
While the televised matches regularly feature members of recognised, successful gaming clans such as Team Dignitas, and individual victors of major gaming tournaments including Apollo - Shaun Clark Xleague.tv also encourages enthusiasts and non-professionals to get involved in the community (and thus, potentially, The Match) through the game-specific clubs and leagues set up in a way that ensures that players of like strength compete together.
The channel recently announced that it was partnering with fellow UK tournament organisers, Enemy Down to run a series of team games for titles including Counter-Strike: Source in the Packard Bell European Open, which the hardware manufacturer will be supporting with prizes.
As of mid-to-late December 2007, the channel chose to diversify its content by showing niche sports programmes after Midnight and in the early afternoon. This was not well-received by the XLeague community, who view it as a repeat of the Babestation debacle, which lead to the demise of Game Network.
In February 2008, it was revealed that the channel had entered into an agreement with US men's entertainment channel MavTV, who had provided the niche sports content, and the channel would be re-branded as Pulse, which would be made up of separately branded XLEAGUE.TV and Mav blocks, with- according to Digital Spy- XLeague are in talks with other providers to provide further programming blocks.
On Monday 25th February 2008, the Xleague.tv channel was rebranded as expected to "Pulse". The channel still retains all the Xleague programmes and website, prior to the rebrand.
Contents |
[edit] Featured Programmes
[edit] Games Night
Games Night is a fortnightly discussion show originally presented by Alan Boiston and currently by Paul Vale that aims to discuss issues suggested for inclusion by members of the XLEAGUE.TV forums. Special guests are selected from a pool of recognized community members, pro-gamers and industry experts.
The show works around a general discussions structure, with topics being introduced by the host. Guests are encouraged to be as candid as they wish and express their opinions on the subjects, covering both sides of every discussion. During the show, the host will seek to include opinions from forum participants, submitted on the relevant topic of the discussions.
[edit] The Match
The flagship show of XLEAGUE.TV, The Match is a studio based show which delivers highlights from tournament and league play from XLEAGUE.TV's club and league competition.
The bulk of the show's content is presented in the style of sports broadcasting found on television, with the two commentators at hand first taking presenting roles by introducing the game, competitors and rules of the contest from the commentary booth, before play begins. When the channel started, a series of pundits and a dedicated presenter would handle those duties, discuss the game and offer their opinion on the outcome; however, this was streamlined to the current format for all but League or Tournament finals, where it was felt the extra ceremony was more appreciated.
[edit] Reviewmageddon
An alternative review show hosted by Larry Bundy Jr and Wesley Lock. The show was originally 15 minutes in length, but due to its popularity, as of the fourth broadcast episode the show was increased to a full 30 minutes.
[edit] The Chart
The Chart is XLEAGUE.TV's weekly video game chart show, compiled from the ELSPA video game sales charts. The show presents a rundown of the top 10 most high-selling games for that week. It also includes a regular Retro segment (now known as Guru Larry's Retro Corner, se below) presented and written by ex-Game Network and ex-Game Guru hosts Larry Bundy Jr. and Wesley Lock.
[edit] FIFA Interactive World Cup
XLEAGUE.TV's FIWC coverage took the form of two shows:
[edit] Road To Berlin
A programme produced by an outside company, a documentary series following the qualifying heats in the United Kingdom, predominantly following competitors who have previously appeared in xLeague's own tourmanents, narrated by Paul Vale.
[edit] Extra Time
Studio-based talk show featuring commentators, football pundits and FIWC competitors, again, fronted by Paul Vale.
[edit] Guru Larry's Retro Corner
Guru Larry's Retro Corner is a popular weekly segment on the XLEAGUE.TV series, The Chart. Which originally appeared as part of The Chart before spinning off into its own separate "best of" series.
Presented by Guru Larry (Larry Bundy Jr.) and Co-Written by Larry Bundy Jr and Wesley Lock (Wesley is also known as the second voice which occasionally appears on the show), the series was originally devised from their earlier ScrewAttack series, Games Yanks Can't Wank, a show about games unreleased in America.
[edit] Inside Gaming
Inside Gaming is a fifteen-minute to thirty minute programme delivered in a documentary format (in a similar vein to G4's Icons), in which a reporter travels anywhere around the world in order to cover key events related to gaming. Reports have so far included the World Series of Video Games, the iseries from Multiplay, coverage of a showcase for THQ published game Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights from the real-world event of the same name, and the Ubidays promotional event for Ubisoft software, which took place in France. Development Diaries offering an overview of a game's creation are also featured, from companies such as Evolution Studios and Ubisoft.
[edit] Game60
Game60 is a programme presented by Lisa Dawson which airs for sixty seconds and is broadcast daily that aims to offer concise news updates to keep viewers up-to-date on the latest developments on XLEAGUE.TV, both with regard to the competitions the channel supports and upcoming programming. New editions are shown twice a week.
Runtime: 1 min / Format: Video Games - News / Starring: Lisa Dawson / Aired: October 2007 - Present Day
[edit] Wez and Larry's Top Tens
The top ten show was a six part series featuring the best and the worst of the gaming world, hosted by Wesley Lock and Larry Bundy Jr. The series has been repeated almost every day since originally airing. According to the seventh episode of Reviewmageddon Wez and Larry are working on more top ten episodes.
[edit] Trailblazers
First screened week beginning 14th October, Trailblazers shows the latest trailers from games to be released in the future, accompanied by reflection on the clips, initially by two animated computers - Ed & Randy, latterly by a Nintendo Wii named Willy, a Playstation 3 named Percy and an Xbox 360 named Jeff.
There were plans for a pre and post-Watershed (television) versions of the same episodes, but was scrapped for just a single version of the show.
[edit] Programmes not currently broadcasting
[edit] The Edge
The Edge features professional gamers from around the world sharing their most closely guarded hints and tips across a wide range of games and genres. Added to the channels lineup in September 2007, the show has thus far run for a single episode, in which Team Dignitas representatives offered advice on World In Conflict.
Each edition is divided into two fifteen-minute programmes - one specialising in tips for beginners, and the other for the more experienced player.
Runtime: 15 mins / Number of eps: 1 / Format: Video Games - Tips and Strategies / Aired: September 2007
[edit] The Casual Gaming Show
Aimed at the younger market, this sees two families play against each other in the hope of winning a top family prize. It features games that usually are bought by the casual family gamer such as Wii Sports, Singstar, etc. Though it received good advertising on the TV channel, in the face of largely negative feedback from its more mature viewers, its future is currently uncertain.
Only one edition has aired to date.
Runtime: 1 hour / Number of eps: 1 / Format: Video Games - Competitive / Starring: Layla Anna Lee, Yemi Sawyer, Lisa Dawson / Aired: July 2007
[edit] Gear Slot
Gear Slot is a shopping program showing the latest products of PC hardware, such as graphics cards, motherboard and PC housing. Three types of categories are given to these items; Good, Better and The Best. A presenter and an expert usually host the show.
Currently not airing on the channel.
[edit] H3O
A dedicated Halo 3 show, host by Tommy Boulding and Mike Bembenek, which delves into the world of Halo - mainly for the competitive scene from its Halo 3 Ladders as well as other organisers events such as Matchbox 360 XL.
The series has now ended since the finals of the XLEAGUE.TV 10,000k Ladder Play-Offs.
[edit] Website
The XLEAGUE.TV website provides interviews with standout competitors, be they clans or individuals, in The Match - conducted before or after a game. General news updates are provided from the world of gaming, along with the ability to sign up to participate in League or Tournament competition, in the search of recognition, fun and prizes. Some games offer sponsored free-play, whilst others require a subscription for entrance.
Users can upload videos they have created on the website as well, which may be featured in future programming. The site also offers a community podcast in the form of Talkback, in which XLEAGUE.TV community and channel staff offer their views on raised concerns, and fill the audience in as to upcoming highlights. The website is designed to compliment the channel.
[edit] WebTV Beta
A YouTube-style section of the website that allows users to upload their videos. Its main focus is on Machinima, voice-over movies using video games to animate their scenes.
[edit] Sources
Gamesindustry.biz (15/05/2007). "XLeague TV launches tomorrow". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-05-15.
computerandvideogames.com (Tuesday 24-Apr-2007). "XLeague.TV reveals games list for showdown launch". Press release. Retrieved on Tuesday 24-Apr-2007.
mcvuk.com (14-Aug-2007). "XLEAGUE.TV Listens To Community". Press release. Retrieved on Tuesday 14-Aug-2007.
- OfCom's Licence for XLEAGUE.TV
- Spong.com news report
- GNews Report on Channel's Launch
- EuroBird Satelitte EPG Listings, which announces the induction of XLEAGUE.TV
- Ben Talbot's blog
- http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/cs/1481.htm
[edit] External links
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