Though video gaming fans have been able to follow competitions on game Web sites for years already, MLG's television deal marks the first time regular TV viewers would be able track the ups and downs of a pro tournament, watching video gaming as a new kind of extreme sport.

"This is the sign that pro gaming has finally arrived to the mass market," said Matthew Bromberg, MLG's president and chief operating officer. "It's like poker was two years ago, or NASCAR 15 years ago."

The series will follow MLG's two main competitive titles: Bungie's blockbuster shooter Halo 2 (Xbox) and Nintendo's fast-paced brawler Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN). While this is a far cry from ubiquitous competitive PC games such as Valve's Counter-Strike and Blizzard's StarCraft, console titles such as Halo 2 and Smash Bros. may provide the mass appeal necessary to draw in viewers not already familiar with video games as a spectator activity. "After three years of grassroots initiatives to build a credible, authentic professional video game league, MLG is now on the threshold of truly breaking through to the mass market," said MLG CEO and co-founder Mike Sepso. Sponsors such as Sprint Nextel brand Boost Mobile and Toyoto brand Scion will be contributing prizes and marketing tie-ins.

This could be a good thing. As somebody who enjoys both Halo and Smash Bros., I wouldn't mind watching exceptionally skilled players compete in those games. On the other hand, the particular sponsors involved and the historical precedent of gaming-related content on national television (Spike TV Video Game Awards, anyone?) make me very, very apprehensive of what the final result is going to look like.