Sony Crackle announced today their first ESports docu-series titled “Hook’d,” in partnership with NRG ESports and Complex Networks, slated to premiere , with subsequent three to five-minute episodes rolling out on Monday, July 30, Wednesday, August 1, and Wednesday, August 15
Filmed in the final month leading up to the largest and longest-running fighting game tournaments in the world – The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) in Las Vegas from August 3-5, “Hook’d” will immerse viewers in Hook’s professional world. Viewers will connect and hear Hook’s story of how he has overcome challenges as a young adult to contend for the Evo world title in Dragon Ball FighterZ and the influences that help guide him there including his New Jersey neighbor, mentor, and professional NRG teammate Nairoby Quezada (aka Nairo), as well as New Jersey-born NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
Hook was recently discovered by NRG, the ESports mega-team financially backed by the co-owners of the Sacramento Kings, as well as celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal, electronic music DJ Tiësto, and Alex Rodriguez. Hook rapidly ascended the North East local and conference fighting game competitions in just under four months to defeat some of the top ranked players in the world at the recent Summit of Power invitational. As the rookie, Evo is an opportunity for Hook to prove to everyone, including himself that he is a fighter – a fighter in a fighting game world, and a fighter to succeed out of the hard realities of his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. Viewers will be given unprecedented access into Hook’s process and training, following him from his home to the international stage in Las Vegas as he prepares for the fight of his life.
“Hook’d” is produced by Complex Networks. The series is executive produced by Justin Killion, Brandon Killion, Andy Miller and Melissa Brooks.
Sony Crackle is the only free, ad-supported streaming service that combines premium Original programming with curated blockbuster library titles hand-picked for its core audience of connectors: a coveted audience whose gaming consoles and streaming devices are their gateway to entertainment. Located on the lot of one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios, Sony Crackle is the launchpad for Original hits like “The Oath,” “Snatch,” “StartUp” and “SuperMansion.” With a team that spans some of the best of entertainment, tech, data science and gaming, Sony Crackle has surpassed 100M downloads to date and is available for free or as a paid service on over 25 devices and in 20 countries around the globe. For more information, go to www.sonycrackle.com or follow @SonyCrackle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for real-time updates.
Complex Networks, formed from the acquisition of Complex Media Inc. through a joint venture by Verizon and Hearst, is a global lifestyle brand and media company and one of the most influential voices in popular culture today. Complex Networks generates over 810 million video views a month across its digital channels – Complex, First We Feast, Rated Red, Pigeons and Planes, Sole Collector and more – and is a Top 10 publisher in the U.S. for social engagement on channels like Facebook and YouTube.
Complex Networks develops and distributes original programming for its channels and through output deals with distributors including Facebook, Fuse, Verizon, Snapchat, MSG and more. The company cultivates content that spans across popular culture from music to movies, sports to video games, fashion to food, reaching the coveted 18-24-year-old male audience. In November, the company successfully hosted its second ComplexCon in Long Beach, California, attracting 200 top brands and over 50,000 attendees to the two-day cultural festival.
NRG Esports is a San Francisco-based esports organization competing at the highest level of professional video gaming. NRG owns 9 pro gaming teams including the San Francisco Shock of the Overwatch League. NRG was founded in 2015 by Andy Miller and Mark Mastrov, co-owners of the Sacramento Kings. NRG investors include Shaquille O’Neal, Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, alongside Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
