(Yicai Global) Feb. 1 -- TCL Electronics Holdings is teaming up with the country’s top professional league of the online battle arena game League of Legends to expand its influence in the fast-growing e-sports sector, the Chinese television maker said today.

Apart from brand co-operation, TCL will look to develop products and services that better cater to the needs of the League of Legends Pro League, the Hong Kong-based firm said.

TCL has been paying attention to the large-display gaming industry since 2014, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Wang said. Now that e-sports will be a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, demand for professional gaming equipment is bound to soar, Wang said.

The popularity of home entertainment systems is expected to skyrocket as the pandemic encourages people to stay home. As newer generations of graphic cards for e-sports continue to be introduced, it will encourage users to upgrade their display systems.

The possibility of linking their personal computers with high performance TV screens to play video games offers a whole new opportunity to traditional TV suppliers, said Chen Wei, director at Sony China's division of home display products.

Global shipments of professional gaming displays surged 69 percent last year from the year before to 15 million units, Li Yayu, senior analyst at Sigmaintell Consulting, told Yicai Global. This figure is expected to gain another 50 percent this year. China shipments were up 41 percent last year to 3.6 million units and this is expected to grow a further 35 percent this year.

This is in sharp contrast to the weak need for color TVs. Many of China’s mainstream color TV brands, such as Hisense, Skyworth and Konka, are moving into the e-sports screen business. Japan’s Sony, for instance, was able to double the number of its young consumers aged between 16 and 25 by selling TV products specially designed for gaming during the Double Eleven online shopping bonanza last November.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor