Nerd Street Gamers partners with HITN TV to Promote Diversity in Esports with new training program

PHILADELPHIA, September 15, 2021 – Nerd Street Gamers, the national esports infrastructure company, announced today its partnership with HITN-TV, the largest non-commercial Spanish language television network available in 35+ million US Households to launch an esports training program designed to further create diversity within the esports industry. After seeing lower participation among Hispanic and African-American professional gamers at esports tournaments, 1HITN partnered with Nerd Street to develop a training program to provide professional-level training to young Hispanic and African-American gamers interested in breaking into the industry. This program is called Conduit.

“Nerd Street is passionate about bringing esports to new communities by creating accessible opportunities,” said John Fazio, CEO and Founder of Nerd Street Gamers. “We’re also excited to partner with HITN to help youth leverage their passion for video games to open the door to all career paths in the esports industry.”

CONDUIT is a year-long training program designed to prepare young Hispanic and African-American gamers to become professional esports athletes. CONDUIT’s program begins with a ten-week video training series produced by Nerd Street. All the training videos are hosted by esports professionals who share tips and advice, while also focusing on different aspects of competitive gaming. Additionally, Nerd Street incorporates all of its industry knowledge – in its own unique style – into each training clip, making the videos an important resource for any aspiring gamer.

“The esports industry is booming. In the last decade we’ve seen esports grow from streamed underground events to worldwide, televised programs,” said Michael D. Nieves, President and CEO of HITN.  “We believe that Hispanics need to be better represented in this growing industry so we are partnering with Nerd Street Gamers to help create career paths for young Hispanics in the esports industry.”

For CONDUIT’s first year, Nerd Street and HITN are working with five middle schools from underserved communities in New York City to launch CONDUIT’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) training series. This one-of-a-kind program will train young fans of the iconic game to take their SSBU skills to the next level. Young gamers will learn by watching training videos, running drills at virtual bootcamps, working with mentors, testing their new skills at monthly competitions hosted by Nerd Street, and representing their middle school at a culminating tournament where all participating schools will compete for the glory of being the first CONDUIT championship team.

John Fazio added, “While video games such as Super Smash Bros. are highly popular among youth, not many are aware of the potential careers within the industry. We’re committed to turning their passion for gaming into viable careers in the esports industry.”

About Nerd Street Gamers

Nerd Street Gamers (Nerd Street) is a national network of esports facilities and events dedicated to powering competitive opportunities for gamers. The company promotes greater access to the esports industry, laying a national framework for esports talent development and high-quality gaming tournaments. Through Localhost, its gaming and esports centers across the country, the company provides opportunities for gamers of all ages and skill levels to participate in esports tournaments, camps, team training, private events like birthday parties, and hourly play for a wide variety of video games. Nerd Street has received backing from Five Below, Comcast Spectacor, SeventySix Capital, Elevate Ventures, angel investor George Miller, and Founders Fund.

For more information, follow @nerdstreet and nerdstreet.com.

About HITN:

HITN-TV is a leading Spanish-language media company that offers educational and cultural programming for the whole family. It reaches more than 44 million homes in the US and Puerto Rico via DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, AT&T TV, DISH Network, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Mediacom, CenturyLink Prism and Altice, Liberty Cable & Claro (Puerto Rico). Download the “HITN GO” Everywhere App available on Apple, Android, Apple TV and Roku® with a cable subscription. For more information visit: www.hitn.org  and follow @HITNtv on social platforms.