Activision Blizzard partners with Facebook to launch eSports broadcasts

Activision Blizzard's Media Networks division plans to use Facebook to expand the gaming giant's reach and bring eSports, or video-game competitions, to the masses.

The company announced the launch of "new content, broadcast experiences and distribution partnerships for its MLG.tv streaming platform," which it acquired in December 2015. One of those partnerships is with Facebook, and the inaugural event of their efforts will come at the MLG Anaheim Open, a two-day "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" tournament that starts June 10.

In a statement, the company said: "The collaboration will allow MLG.tv to broadcast live competitions and deliver ESR content to the 1.6 billion people on Facebook." ESR is MLG's "eSports report."