Gaming site GameSpot reports today that Colin Cowherd has left ESPN. Cowherd is well known as one of ESPN’s top personalities; but to the gaming community he’s better known for being an outspoken critic of esports from several statements made back in April.

ESPN President John Skipper posted a short-but-sweet departure note for Cowherd,

“We’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial run with Colin for over a decade. He came to national prominence on ESPN with his unique perspective on sports and society. Endings also bring new beginnings, for ESPN and Colin, and we thank him and wish him the best.”

April of this year, Cowherd slammed competitive gaming in general on his ESPN Radio show The Herd after ESPN hosted a Heroes of the Storm competition on ESPN 2.

“If ESPN ever forced me to cover that, or do play-by-play, I would quit.”

“Somebody lock the basement door at mom’s house, and don’t let ’em out,” he added, in what sounded like a reference to the players. “I will quit this network if I am every asked to cover that.”

There is no reason to believe this is the reason he exited ESPN at this time. However, it’s true that now at least ESPN will never ask him to cover an esports event.

As for ESPN and esports: it’s still growing

Esports is a blossoming industry and ESPN is one player that does not intend to get left behind. ESPN The Magazine even has an issue dedicated to esports, and in June of this year published an article titled, “Resistance is futile: eSports is massive … and growing.”

In it, EPSN cites that esports viewership has been growing 21 per cent year over year to 89 million in 2014, from 74 million in 2013 and 58 million in 2012.

No doubt ESPN does not want to get left in the dust when it comes to esports and the writing has been on the wall since Amazon.com bought Twitch in 2014 for $970 million. Twich is still the top of the food chain when it comes to Internet viewership of esports events (and gaming in general.) In fact, a report from April showed 77% of all viewership to Twitch came from major esports game publishers, split between Riot Games (League of Legends), Valve (DOTA 2), and Blizzard (Star Craft 2, and now Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone.)

According to a 2015 Newzoo report, esports revenues are expected to hit $465 million in 2017, doubling over 2015, and have a comparable audience to that of the NFL. The esports market is already worth $194 million per year. This is cited as a conservative estimate.

With these market metrics and the obvious expansion of audience and dollars looming, perhaps it is a good time for Cowherd to get out after all.

photo credit: BOOM!! HEADSHOT!!! via photopin (license)