PlayVS and Urban One have announced a three-year partnership to create a competitive gaming community for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States.
Announced during Black History Month, the collaboration provides a structured framework within the PlayVS College League (PCL) to support student gamers through formalised competition, media amplification, and recruitment pathways.
According to a press release, the initiative aims to address a representation gap in the industry, where Black professionals currently constitute approximately 5% of the workforce despite significant audience influence.
Regarding the objective of the programme, Tiffany Nasralla, Chief Revenue Officer at Urban One, stated: “The gap isn’t about talent. It’s about access. Through our partnership with PlayVS, we’re using our platform to build a national stage for HBCU students, expanding visibility, structured competition, and real pathways into the industries they’ve long helped define. This is about turning cultural influence into lasting opportunity.”
The partnership combines Urban One’s media reach of 80 million monthly unique users with PlayVS’s existing scholastic and collegiate competition framework. According to the organisations, the programme is designed to create a sustainable “pipeline,” connecting K-12 gamers from the PlayVS high school network to higher education opportunities at HBCUs.
Participating institutions, including Howard University and Southern University, will receive access to standardised league play and dedicated invitational events.
Jaden Roberts, President of Howard University’s Esports Association, highlighted the cultural importance of the move, noting that for students, “esports is more than just competition; it is a gateway to technology, media, and leadership.” This collaboration follows the 2025 launch of the PlayVS College League, which expanded the company’s focus from high school competition into the higher education sector.
The National HBCU Esports Community will follow a phased implementation strategy to ensure institutional alignment and long-term sustainability. The process begins in the Spring and Summer of 2026 with a period of intensive community building and recruitment, focusing on institutional outreach and the integration of K-12 talent pipelines. By Autumn 2026, participating universities will begin competing in dedicated HBCU-focused invitational events alongside standard PlayVS College League offerings.
This structured rollout culminates in the Spring of 2027 with the formal launch of the inaugural league season, establishing a permanent and comprehensive national competition platform for student athletes.
“This partnership bridges the gap between competitive gaming and the vibrant culture of HBCUs, meeting our students exactly where they are with a dedicated stage to showcase their skills,” said Christopher Turner, Esports Program Director at Southern University.
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