MSG Networks Announces Launch of New eSports Series, “Knicks Gaming,” Profiling the Inaugural Season of New York’s NBA 2K League Team
MSG Networks Announces Launch of New eSports Series, “Knicks Gaming,”
Profiling the Inaugural Season of New York’s NBA 2K League Team
New Show to Premiere on Tuesday, May 8th at 10:00pm
Series to Feature Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Team Access and Interviews with the
Head Coach, Players and Head Scout/Creative Consultant Jerry Ferrara Throughout the Season
New York, NY (May 2, 2018) – MSG Networks (NYSE: MSGN) today announced the upcoming debut of “Knicks Gaming,” a first-of-its kind show that will feature Knicks Gaming, the official NBA 2K League team of The Madison Square Garden Company (NYSE: MSG), throughout their inaugural season competing in the new professional eSports league. The 30-minute show will air on Tuesday nights during the summer, debuting on Tuesday, May 8th at 10:00pm.
The new show will chronicle the team’s collective journey during their first season in the NBA 2K League, a joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, from getting drafted to training to the actual competition, which recently tipped off on Tuesday, May 1st. The series will include profiles on the six players who were selected in the first-ever NBA 2K League Draft, which was held last month at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Actor Jerry Ferrara (Entourage and Power), who was hired as the team’s Head Scout and Creative Consultant, will be prominently featured throughout the series. In addition to Ferrara, other local New York personalities, Knicks fans and gaming enthusiasts will be featured on the show.
“MSG Networks is excited to bring viewers and gamers unique access to New York’s newest professional franchise, Knicks Gaming,” said Kevin Marotta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Content Strategy, MSG Networks. “With the dramatic rise in popularity of eSports, we have a great opportunity to share with fans all the behind-the-scenes interaction among the team, and their weekly preparation for games.”
Through a mix of behind-the-scenes footage and unique storytelling, the “Knicks Gaming” show will provide fans with an up-close look at the six competitive gaming professionals on the roster. The series will include in-depth segments that will profile the players and coach on a more personal level and showcase how they are embracing life here under the bright lights of New York City. As the season progresses, the show will include increased analysis and commentary on each game, along with video from the team on the road.
Each episode will also include new exclusive footage from the Knicks Gaming Training Center at MSG Networks’ corporate headquarters at 11 Penn Plaza in New York City, allowing fans to see how the players practice and prepare throughout the season. The Knicks Gaming Training Center is powered by Spectrum, allowing the team to operate on a powerful network and providing them the best opportunity for success. Spectrum will receive significant exposure throughout team practices and scrimmages in the Training Center, as well as across all the Knicks Gaming social media channels.
Below is a complete Knicks Gaming roster, which includes two local players from the New York/New Jersey area, along with gaming veteran and New York native Kyle Rudy who will serve as the Team Manager and Head Coach. Knicks Gaming will begin its inaugural 15-week regular season with “THE TIPOFF,” the season’s first tournament, with competition running from May 1st-5th. The 2018 NBA 2K League schedule features 12 weeks of matchups, three weeks of tournaments and two weeks of playoffs with the season culminating at the end of August. All competition will take place at the NBA 2K League Studio Powered by Intel in New York City.
| NO. | NAME | GAMER TAG | POSITION | HOME STATE | ROUND (OVERALL) |
| — | Kyle Rudy | LetsBallUp_ | Team Manager/Head Coach | New York | — |
| 17 | Dayvon Curry | G O O F Y 7 5 7 | Power Forward | Virginia | 1st (9th) |
| 25 | Nate Kahl | NateKahl | Small Forward | Wisconsin | 2nd (26th) |
| 7 | Eric Ward | YEYNotGaming | Shooting Guard | Indiana | 3rd (43rd) |
| 30 | Adam Kudeimati | iamadamthe1st | Point Guard | New Jersey | 4th (60th) |
| 66 | Idris Richardson | idrisdagoat6 | Center | South Carolina | 5th (77th) |
| 99 | Marc Rodriguez | xKPMR | Power Forward | New York | 6th (94th) |
All episodes of “Knicks Gaming” televised on MSG Networks will also be streamed on MSG GO, MSG Networks’ live streaming and video on demand platform for smartphones, tablets and computers.
About MSG Networks Inc.
An industry leader in sports production, and content development and distribution, MSG Networks Inc. owns and operates two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network (MSG) and MSG+, and a live streaming and video on demand platform, MSG GO. The networks are home to 10 professional sports teams, delivering live games of the New York Knicks; New York Rangers; New York Islanders; New Jersey Devils; Buffalo Sabres; New York Liberty; New York Red Bulls and the Westchester Knicks, as well as coverage of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. Each year, MSG and MSG+ collectively telecast approximately 500 live professional games, along with a comprehensive lineup of other sporting events, including college football and basketball, and critically-acclaimed original programming. The gold standard for regional broadcasting, MSG Networks has won 152 New York Emmy Awards over the past ten years.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston. Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: The New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA); two development league teams — the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and one of the leading North American esports organizations, Counter Logic Gaming. In addition, the Company features the popular original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces outdoor festivals, including New England’s preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival. Also under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Vandal. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com
About the NBA 2K League
The NBA 2K League is a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). Launching in 2018, the league will feature the best NBA 2K players in the world. Each of the league’s 17 teams will draft gamers to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. The league will host tryouts in early 2018, followed by a draft in March and the season tip-off in May. For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit www.NBA2KLeague.com.
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