Disney+ is doubling down on live sports in Asia. The Walt Disney Company Korea and the Korea eSports Association (KeSPA) have signed a bigger esports streaming deal. It will bring more major Korean and pan‑Asian esports events to Disney+ subscribers worldwide. These include flagship tournaments, Asian‑Games‑linked national‑team coverage, and top League of Legends events.
Under the new agreement, Disney+ will live‑stream the Esports Championships Asia Jinju 2026. National teams from South Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia will compete. The event focuses on fighting, simulation, and battle royale games like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, eFootball, PUBG Mobile, and Eternal Return. Selected markets get this coverage on Disney+ with ESPN branding.
KeSPA has given Disney Korea an exclusive deal to air the League of Legends KeSPA CUP 2026 and Asian‑Games national‑team content. This gives Disney+ a strong foothold in Korea’s competitive esports scene. The deal should boost global exposure for Korean teams and players and attract more sponsors and fans.
On top of esports, Disney+ is strengthening its Korean content through its landmark streaming partnership with CJ ENM’s TVING. Korean subscribers can watch a bundled mix of Korean dramas, films, and local OTT content. This makes Disney+ more attractive in one of Asia’s toughest streaming markets.
As esports becomes a mainstream entertainment category, Disney+’s deeper ties with KeSPA and ESPN‑branded coverage show a clear long‑term bet on live gaming. The expanded Korean esports streaming partnership puts Disney+ at the heart of Asia’s next wave of esports fans as the 2026 Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games draw near.
