NODWIN Gaming, an esports organizer, has announced a partnership with KICK, designating the livestreaming platform as the exclusive digital streaming partner for the upcoming BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) Season 5. This agreement means all matches of the tournament will stream exclusively on KICK, beginning August 10, 2026.
The collaboration signifies a strategic shift in the distribution strategy for BGMS, which has previously utilized a television-first approach to reach mainstream audiences. As the tournament enters its fifth season, the focus is transitioning to a digital-first viewing experience to engage its established online community and explore new commercial avenues.
BGMI Tournament Evolution and Strategic Direction
BGMS has developed into a prominent esports property within India since its inception. While earlier seasons emphasized television broadcasts to introduce competitive gaming to a broader demographic, NODWIN Gaming is now recalibrating its approach.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming (https://nodwingaming.com/), commented on the development: “When BGMS began, our objective was to bring esports into the mainstream and create a stage that would help the ecosystem grow. Television played an important role in that journey and helped us introduce competitive gaming to audiences across the country. Today, BGMS stands as one of India’s leading esports properties with a passionate digital-first community. As the tournament continues to grow, we’re also exploring new ways to distribute, commercialize, and build the IP for the long term. Partnering with KICK marks an important step in that journey, allowing us to experiment with new formats for fan engagement while creating additional opportunities to strengthen the tournament and the wider competitive ecosystem.”
Ethan Wright, Director of KICK, stated: “India is home to some of the world’s most passionate and fastest-growing gaming communities. At KICK, we’re focused on giving those communities a platform that puts them first through a better viewing atmosphere, deeper creator engagement, and a livestreaming experience that helps gaming thrive. Esports continues to bring millions of people together, and we’re excited to help more fans follow every match, celebrate every victory, and support their favorite teams. We’re looking forward to partnering with NODWIN Gaming as the Official Streaming Partner for BGMS Season 5 and help bring one of India’s biggest esports tournaments to audiences around the world.”
Market Context and Industry Trends
This announcement aligns with broader shifts in India’s gaming sector. According to Naavik’s India State of Play 2026 report, India continues to generate approximately 8 billion game downloads annually. The report also highlights a growing trend where in-app purchase revenues have more than doubled over the past five years, indicating a market increasingly driven by engagement, community participation, and long-term monetization, rather than solely user acquisition. This trend underscores the increasing value of premium live content and tournament intellectual properties for platforms seeking to engage dedicated gaming communities, a key area of focus for organizations monitoring industry developments (https://technosports.co.in/).
KICK, which reports over 100 million active users globally and surpassed 1.5 billion hours watched in Q2 2026, positions itself as a creator-centric platform, allowing streamers to retain 95% of subscription revenue. The platform has reported over $228 million USD earned by creators through its Partner Program.
Tournament Schedule
BGMS Season 5 is scheduled to run from August 10 to September 6, 2026. Matches will stream exclusively on KICK, commencing daily at 4:00 PM IST, with the final match slated for 7:20 PM IST. Further details regarding the broadcast schedule will be disseminated through NODWIN Gaming’s official communication channels.
