Great story telling is more than just entertainment; it is a highly powerful and vastly underutilized professional business tool. Peter Guber, who is among the most successful executives and entrepreneurs in the world of entertainment and communication, has dedicated himself to coaching current and future leaders in the art of telling purposeful stories that propel business success. Peter appeared on CNBC recently to talk about what he does best — connecting “artists” with “audiences” to create exceptional customer experiences:
If you’re looking for a sport to hook the audiences of the future, esports may be the best game in town, according to Peter Guber, co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles FC.
“I think it has all the tools to really go the distance and become something powerful,” Guber, who is CEO of Mandalay Entertainment, told CNBC.
Esports’ audience plays the games, making them not only participants but “passengers,” Guber explained. It makes it easier to fill up stadiums in just 20 minutes for championships, and venues have been excited about hosting the events, he said. Guber is also co-owner of professional eSports organization Team Liquid.
“Here is an audience that’s so effervescent, this whole young audience that’s embraced the whole e-technology, the whole e-gaming and have for the last 12 years,” Guber said.
“And it has had a straight-up trajectory,” he said. “Esports and egaminghasn’t plateaued when somebody went off to college. It’s bigger in college; and after college, the audience continues to consume it both as players and watchers, and observers in location-based entertainment, on PCs, on mobile. You have a device that makes people digitally aware, and so this fits right into the sweet spot.”
In addition, the sport is extremely popular in Korea, China and Japan, and has big fans elsewhere in Asia and Europe, Guber said. The total worldwide market for esports last year was estimated at $892 million, according to research firm SuperData.
“You’ll see that it’s everywhere, and it isn’t bound by geography,” he said. “You don’t use a stick or a bat to play, and you can play alone or with a whole group of people, play against the best.”
Watch the video here: