Still on the topic of prize-money

Members of the 2013 MWEB Protea eSports Team displaying their sponsors

While watching “SA's got Talent” on ETv, I had a realisation…

In a previous article I mentioned that a South African gamer stated that South African gaming deserved prize money of at least R500,000.00. (http://esportscommentator.blogspot.co.za/2015/10/we-want-r500k.html

In such article, I examined the prize money that is awarded at a prestigious road-race that attracts 3,000 entries.

Let's be serious though, a TV programme like “SA's got Talent” reaches many millions of viewers. The production value of the show, and the advertising of the show costs millions of rands, and yet, what is the prize money?

The winner gets R250,000.00 (http://www.etv.co.za/sas-got-talent/sas-got-talent-frequently-asked-questions)

So why then do South African gamers think that they are worth R500,000.00?

Are SA gamers that entertaining? Do they draw in millions of viewers? Are sponsors going to sell goods by sponsoring them?

The answers to al of the above questions are: no, no, and no!

In fact, recently at rAge a gamer specifically stated that he does not want spectators…

But he does want prize-money – go figure!

Only the MSSA through its MWEB sponsored Protea eSports Team goes out of its way to create news coverage and to be interviewed.

Such coverage lays the foundation for sponsorship. The sponsorship that the MSSA gets is directly ploughed back into the game, such as, paying for trips to international competition, developing the game at club level, and meeting the priorities as laid down by the Minister of Sport and Recreation.

Makes you think, doesn't it?