CGS Keeps on Doing the Dew

The Championship Gaming Series TM (CGS), the only international professional gaming league, has announced that it will renew its partnership with Mountain Dew. The Alliance is an effort to propel professional gaming into the realm of mainstream sports entertainment.

“We believe CGS has the vision, infrastructure and resources to help transform video-gaming into a popular spectator sport in the U.S.,” said Frank Cooper, VP of marketing for Pepsi-Cola North America’s flavors portfolio. “Our ongoing partnership with the premier league strengthens Mountain Dew’s role as a leading non-endemic brand supporting gaming culture.”

Mountain Dew has renewed the alliance for another year in response to the incredible growth and reception of CGS over the last year. the league now has eighteen teams worldwide including 6 within the United States.

The announcement was timed to coincide with CGS World Final, taking place December 6-14 in Los Angeles, CA. The top 12 CGS teams will battle for the coveted “World Champion” title and a share of a $1,000,000 prize purse. Teams will be competing on Valve’s Counter-Strike: Source and EA’s FIFA 2007 on the PC and Tecmo’s Dead or Alive 4 (DOA4) and Microsoft’s Project Gotham Racing 3 on the Xbox 360.

Mountain Dew will be contributing the coveted Dew Trophy to be awarded to the CGS World Champion along with the $500,000 top prize. Its partnership with the league includes consumer and retail promotions, TV integration and unique event marketing opportunities as well.

“Mountain Dew is a great brand, a perfect fit for our audience, and has been a wonderful partner,” said CGS Commissioner and CEO Andy Reif. “Their support has allowed us to launch the first-ever professional gaming league, worldwide, and set a new standard for the sport.”

Each CGS team features a total of ten athletes, each specializing in an official League game. Five of the ten players comprise a Counter-Strike: Source squad which competes in five-on-five matches. FIFA 07 is played one-on-one. Each CGS team also has a mixed-doubles team of two DOA4 players, who will play against other teams in one-on-one matches on Xbox 360. The racing game PGR3 is played by two players on each team in a two-versus-two format.

CGS is e broadcast on television to more than 350 million viewers by DIRECTV’s The 101 in the U.S., BSkyB’s Sky One, Sky Two and Sky HD in the UK, ESPN STAR Sports in Asia, SKY in Mexico and Brazil, DIRECTV throughout the rest of Latin America, and across mainland Europe via additional soon-to-be confirmed broadcast partners.

via Press Release