The Toronto-based e-sports company will gain access to Omnia’s 90 million gamers through the deal, bringing its total monthly gamers to about 300 million and making it the biggest gaming media platform in North America. Enthusiast is expected to generate about $110 million in revenue this year following the acquisition, more than double the highest-grossing e-sports companies, Team SoloMid and Faze Clan, in 2019. (The Logic)

Talking point: The e-sports sector has seen a rapid surge in user growth during the pandemic. Enthusiast Gaming, which owns YouTube channels and gaming websites, saw a 40 per cent week-over-week increase in views on some of its more popular sites in the first few weeks of lockdown. Its Omnia purchase will help capitalize on the momentum, as gamers spend more time at home and sports fans seek out new entertainment sources in the absence of traditional sports seasons. Enthusiast’s CEO Adrian Montgomery said the combined platform—of which Omnia’s Toronto-based parent firm Blue Ant will own 18 per cent—will have about 500 gaming influencers who reach about 25 per cent of YouTube.