Over the next few months, we’ll take an inside look at how the NSCA 2019 Excellence in Business award winners have adapted to our constantly changing industry. The story of Horizon AVL is second on the list. For its ability to identify a client need and use its love for AV to enter a new market, Horizon AVL was named an NSCA 2019 Excellence in Business award winner in the Differentiating Strategies category.
There aren’t many integrators that can say they’re experts in helping institutions enter the world of esports – but Horizon AVL is at the top of that list.
CEO Joshua Kell says the company is working with about 60 colleges and universities, as well as 1,500 high schools, to help them develop their broadcast and streaming capabilities to support esports: live-play, online video game matches held in special venues or on YouTube channels. Some higher-education institutions are even turning esports into a scholarship sport.
There weren’t lots of places for institutions to turn in order to learn more about esports and receive coaching on how to deploy it successfully. After identifying this growing need – and getting requests from customers for help – Horizon AVL launched its eSports Integration division in 2018.
To make esports a win, top-quality, high-performance audio and video components are obviously needed for events and arenas, so Horizon AVL offers:
- AV components
- Broadcast and live streaming services
- Broadcast sets and stage design
- Control room design
- Gear
But clients also need help determining how to proceed with esports team building and marketing, as well as how to expand their knowledge of the growing and ever-changing gaming industry.
Horizon AVL took advantage of this opportunity, building strategic partnerships with gaming manufacturers and developers, such as Twitch. This allows the company to serve as a resource for institutions interested in esports while also providing resources for those who find navigation of this new industry daunting and don’t know where to start.
Because Horizon AVL identified the need early on, it has now become a frontrunner in the esports market and also offers consultation and curriculum development, including team development and broadcast, for colleges and universities that want to delve into esports as a new opportunity for recruitment and revenue.
The company also created a process to guide customers through the vital steps needed to get to successful esports integration:
- Follow best practices by setting up appropriate participation guidelines and academic expectations
- Create a club or team to test out interest before creating a formal program
- Build your roadmap that outlines your goals and timelines
- Implement standards for esports hardware
- Establish buy-in from students and IT
Check back as we continue to reveal how the 2019 NSCA Excellence in Business award winners made business changes to adapt to our constantly changing industry. You’ll also read stories from: