A new reality TV show looks for Southeast Asia’s top video game players

Daryl Teo, CEO of Spout (L), and Justin Deiman of Aurora Media.

Execration and TNC, both based in the Philippines, qualified for this year’s The International, a global esports tournament where players battle each other in the video game Dota 2.

Think Big Brother meets American Idol!

It’s rare for Southeast Asian teams to make the cut, Daryl Teo says. Professional gaming in the region isn’t as big as it is in countries like China and South Korea, but it can catch up if talent is nurtured, he believes.

With this in mind, Teo’s company, Singapore-based media and events firm Spout360, launched a new project to help kickstart a more vibrant Southeast Asian video gaming culture, he tells Tech in Asia. In part, because he’s passionate about esports, but also because he thinks it’s a business opportunity worth investing in.

The latest project is a 32-part reality TV show. “Think Big Brother meets American Idol,” Teo says.

The show’s goal is to unearth Southeast Asia’s new generation of gaming talent, which will feed into the funnel of Spout’s other interest: digital media, talent management, and events.

A billion-dollar industry

There’s a ton of money in the industry. It’s estimated to be worth US$1.1 billion in 2019 by market research firm Newzoo. (That’s just esports – the entire gaming industry saw US$ 91 billion in revenues last year.)

Fans of professional gaming are extremely engaged and willing to spend, Teo says.

To illustrate this point: The International Dota 2 tournament this year offers prize money of over US$20 million. It’s partly spotted by Valve, the game’s developer, and fans who contributed to the pot in a crowdsourcing campaign.

Last year, a Chinese team won the tournament. According to Newzoo, China and Korea made up for roughly 23 percent of global esports revenues, totaling US$106 million in 2016. Other strong markets are the US and Europe. While Southeast Asia isn’t as relevant yet in the international tournament circuit, the interest is there.

Inside Spout’s esports venue. Photo credit: Spout.

“Audience-wise, the situation is different, with Asia contributing 44 percent of global esports enthusiasts,” says Newzoo’s report. “Growth in this region is, for a large part, fueled by an explosive uptake in Southeast Asia.”

Southeast Asia’s got talent

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