• Loading stock data...
Thursday, March 28, 2024
2024 Best Venues nominations are open now through April 8! Submit Now

ESPN to Air League of Legends Championship Series Spring Split Playoffs

  • Agreement with Riot Games helps to fill a void in ESPN live sports linear programming.
  • League of Legends Championship Series spring split will air on ESPN2 for the first time.
Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN has announced an agreement with Riot Games to broadcast the League of Legends Championship Series spring split playoffs on ESPN2 and the ESPN app. 

LCS is North America’s professional League of Legends esports competition. The league’s spring split playoffs, which began April 3 and will conclude on April 19, has its winner qualify to play in the Mid-Season Invitational. The MSI annually pits the winners of spring splits from all 12 League of Legends leagues around the world before teams shift to the summer portion of the schedule.

Riot Games postponed this year’s MSI tournament until July 3 over coronavirus concerns last month. 

ESPN has a long history bringing esports competitions to viewers for titles such as Overwatch, DOTA 2, Madden, and FIFA. The company also previously aired the League of Legends World Championships in 2014 on ESPN3, which collectively drew more viewers than the clinching games of the World Series and NBA Finals that season, according to Riot Games.

This deal will allow ESPN to serve new audiences by placing League of Legends on linear television for the first time, the network said. Matches will be available on-demand on the ESPN app.

“Hosting the Spring Split playoffs on ESPN’s platforms allows us to introduce the LCS to even more fans, including many new to esports,” Chris Greeley, LCS Commissioner, said in an email. “It’s a proud moment for LCS fans to be part of an iconic sports brand like ESPN, and show our community’s passion to the world.”

ESPN just concluded 12 hours of esports coverage on April 5, and the sports network is looking for new ways to entertain viewers at home with sports leagues on hiatus. Coverage on April 5 was highlighted by live action from the NBA2K player tournament and F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Esports Betting Doubles Down In Absence of Live Sports

“The circumstances surrounding the pandemic created a unique challenge and opportunity in the absence of most live sports to serve sports fans of all kinds with the best possible content available,” John Lasker, vice president of digital programming at ESPN, said. “We remain committed to serving this passionate and growing audience. We have and will continue to cover the [esports] category in the highest quality live and surrounding coverage our fans have come to expect.” 

ESPN declined to share ratings for individual esports programming on April 5, citing “unprecedented times and the scope of what is upon us.” However, the NBA 2K player’s tournament averaged an audience of more than 350,000 viewers, according to ShowBuzzDaily.

“We hope there is more to come,” Lasker said. “We will continue to explore opportunities in esports to grow our brand and expand our audience.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Executive Questions Logic Behind Streaming Giants’ Joint Venture

The ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox alliance is expected to launch this fall.

Midweek Special: NFL Planning Two Games on Christmas Wednesday

The NFL will play a doubleheader Wednesday, Dec. 25.

Inside the Proxy Fight for the Future of Disney (and ESPN)

Dissident investor Nelson Peltz is seeking two board seats in an upcoming election.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

MLB Opens Season With MLBPA, Ohtani, and Ownership Dramas

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

March 22, 2024, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0) react in overtime against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Barclays Center.
March 27, 2024

‘An Expensive Game’: March Madness and NIL Collectives Are Intertwined

At schools nationwide, collectives are fueling NCAA tournament runs and vice versa.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (22) waits to be announced in the starting lineup against West Virginia in a NCAA Tournament round of 32 game Monday, March 25, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
March 26, 2024

The Women’s Trading Card Market Is Overlooked. Can Caitlin Clark Change That?

Traditionally, women’s sports cards have been a marginal part of collectibles.
The Sports Illustrated cover signed by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, February 27, 2019, at Don & Charlie's, 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. Don Charlie S
March 24, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About the Ongoing ‘Sports Illustrated’ Saga

Understanding the strange state of affairs for the nearly 70-year-old publication.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Live Nation
Multiple - USA Careers
Adidas
Multiple - USA Careers
Spotify
Multiple - USA Careers
Sponsored

How Daily Fantasy Sports Solved NBA Fantasy

The remarkable growth of the #1 Discord sports server in the world.
Oct 5, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, points to the lettering outside of the museum Tuesday.
February 28, 2024

How Do You Keep Negro Leagues Baseball History Alive? Put It in a Video Game

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum attracting increased donations, visits from ‘MLB The Show.’
February 29, 2024

Electronic Arts’ Layoffs Signal Ongoing Evolution, Struggles

The company is set to make a second major round of staff cuts in the last year.
Sponsored

How Daily Fantasy Sports Solved NBA Fantasy

The remarkable growth of the #1 Discord sports server in the world.
Sony-Playstation-Demo-Booth
February 27, 2024

Sony to Lay Off 900 From PlayStation Team After Missed Sales Target

Cuts come amid a tough stretch for the gaming industry.
EA Sports
February 15, 2024

EA Sports: Summer Release for Long-Dormant College Football Video Game

Ed O’Bannon’s historic lawsuit led to the shuttering of EA Sports’ popular college games.
Gatorade
February 14, 2024

Was the Gatorade Color Compromised Before Super Bowl LVIII Kickoff?

Multiple gambling companies saw a sharp spike in the color purple prior to Sunday’s kickoff.
Reba McEntire Super Bowl
February 12, 2024

Reba McEntire Repeated ‘the Brave’ in the National Anthem, Sending Prop Bettors Spiraling

BetMGM paid bettors on both the over and the under.