'Overwatch' proves it's a viable esport after tourney ratings beat 'CS:GO'

LOS ANGELES -- The Overwatch Open outpaced viewership expectations for its cable TV debut, beating the summer's more established Counter-Strike: Global Offensive group final -- a strong sign that Blizzard's 2016 phenomenon has a bright future as an esport game after all.

Misfits beat Team EnVyUs in the weekend finale at Turner's eleague studio in Atlanta, taking $100,000 of the $300,000 prize pool. It was only Overwatch's second tournament, and its first live broadcast on TBS, where it attracted roughly 280,000 viewers.

That's about 25,000 more than watched the Group F final of CS:GO, which also aired on TBS.

Though Overwatch had a huge debut -- roughly 15 million people are playing since its May launch -- skeptics wondered whether it would be a long-term esports play, as it lacks in-game spectating tools. Without birds-eye and multiple-player views, it's harder for commentators and spectators to see the action.

Blizzard has yet to say whether it would address that issue in future iterations.

With results like these, it might not matter. No new major Overwatch prize-pool events are on the calendar at the moment, but don't be surprised to see one put together quickly after a strong start on cable (still considered a secondary platform, as most fans watch on Twitch).

Turner is an investor in Mashable.