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Fans will be able to root for their favorite Overwatch League teams tonight as the first day of the quarterfinals begins. There's a twist, however. Instead of watching the festivities online, viewers will be able to tune into the action on live TV, thanks to a newly announced partnership between Disney and Blizzard.
Starting tonight, at 7 and 10 p.m. Central, viewers can watch the league's day-one quarterfinals on Disney XD and ESPN3. The broadcasts will continue through July 29's season recap, on a variety of affiliated networks including ABC.
It's part of a multiyear partnership that will continue next year, as the league enters year two.
Here's the complete schedule, straight from ESPN.
| DATE | TIME (ET) | EVENT | NETWORK(S) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., July 11 | 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. | Day 1 of Quarterfinals | Disney XD, ESPN3 |
| Fri., July 13 | 8 p.m. | Day 2 of Quarterfinals | Disney XD, ESPN3 |
| Sat., July 14 | 4 p.m. | Day 3 of Quarterfinals | Disney XD, ESPN3 |
| Wed., July 18 | 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. | Day 1 of Semifinals | Disney XD, ESPN3 |
| Fri., July 20 | 7 p.m. | Day 2 of Semifinals | ESPNEWS |
| Sat., July 21 | 7 p.m. | Day 3 of Semifinals | ESPN2 |
| Fri., July 27 | 7 p.m. | Day 1 of Finals | ESPN |
| Sat., July 28 | 4:30 p.m. | Day 2 of Finals | Disney XD, ESPN3 |
| Sat., July 28 | 9 p.m. | Day 2 of Finals | ESPN2 (re-air) |
| Sun., July 29 | 3 p.m. | Highlights Recap | ABC, ESPN3 |
This is a significant step for Overwatch League, and it'll certainly get competitive-level play in front of more eyeballs. What those newcomers think of the league remains to be seen. Personally, I've found Overwatch League matches to be nearly unwatchable, and I've had a difficult time keeping track of what is ultimately happening during those games. I'll stick with playing the game for now.