Hikaru Nakamura (left) and Fabiano Caruana (@photochess/Maria Emelianova)
May 23, 2023
Game+ — a subsidiary of global multi-platform media company Anthem Sports & Entertainment — has entered into a broadcast partnership with chess destination and website Chess.com. Game+ will launch a weekly chess-themed lineup with original and classic content, headlined by the debut of the new series “Chess.com Presents Chess Moves,” premiering June 4 at 9 p.m. EST.
The three-hour block kicks off each week with the new hour-long chess series. The program runs the gamut of the game from basic tips for those just learning to play, to more detailed strategies and maneuvers, as well as exclusive features and speed games.
“Chess.com Presents Chess Moves” will be followed each week by two hours of classic coverage from the Chess.com archives, putting the spotlight on high-profile and global chess championship matches and tournaments featuring legendary players such as Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri. This is the first time that chess-themed content has been featured prominently on a weekly basis on primetime television in North America.
“Chess has such a great history and continues to grow in popularity generation after generation,” said Chad Midgley, VP of content for Anthem, in a statement. “Chess.com is the leading purveyor of chess in the online landscape, ushering the game into the digital age on a global scale and attracting new passionate players every single day. By adding chess to our lineup, we hope that it will encourage and inspire viewers to get on the board and discover all of the skills, strategies, and magic that makes the game so special.”
“I’m excited to see our chess media distribution continue to expand and our partnership with Game+ is a huge new step forward for us,” said Chess.com CEO Erik Allebest in a statement. “The ‘Chess Moves’ programming concept is amazing and I can’t wait to watch.”
Chess.com is the world’s largest chess site with a community of more than 125 million members from around the world playing more than 10 million games every day. Chess.com organizes and broadcasts the world’s biggest chess events featuring multi-million-dollar prize funds.
Game+ offers live sports wagering content, esports coverage, fantasy sports gaming news and information, high stakes poker, live action sports, wrestling and other action-adventure driven shows and lifestyle programming. The channel is available on IPTV, cable, satellite systems and subscription streaming services across North America.