Hello, this is Woody Rhee, the Korea Country Manager of Riot Games.

Recently, there have been various rumors and speculation about the broadcasting plans for the 2016 LCK (LoL Champions Korea). For quite some time now, Riot Games has been in deep discussions with the three-party committee (KeSPA, OGN, and Riot) to find ways to improve the LCK in 2016; and the highest priority for us is to ensure that the feedback that we have received from eSports fans is reflected in those improvements. Based on these discussions and considerations, Riot Games has reached a position on this matter, which I wanted to share with eSports fans.

Riot Games is considering broadcasting a portion of the regular season matches for 2016 LCK Summer season through another broadcaster, SPOTV.  

Since a long time before these recent discussions, eSports fans have been providing feedback regarding the management of the 2015 LCK, and the overall game viewing experience. The reason why we are considering splitting broadcasts for the LCK Summer season next year is because we believe that this would alleviate and solve many of the discomfort and difficulties that fans have been experiencing. Some of the significant improvements that we anticipate are as follows:

First, the starting time of all matches can be clearly set.

The current LCK system is a double-header format that features two matches back-to-back on the same day; this arrangement has resulted in various problems. For example, a viewer who wants to watch the second match-up had to wait for the first match-up to end. This wait posed even greater problems for spectators attending the live event. Furthermore, if the matches were to drag on, then the second match-up would sometimes end past midnight, and fans would sometimes be stranded without access to public transportation. Another pitfall of this format was that the pro-players were not able to effectively regulate their waiting time to maintain optimal condition before their match.

Splitting the broadcast of the two matches to two different venues eliminates all of these conflicts, and both matches could start at a pre-determined time. With this split format, there is a possibility that some live match broadcasts may overlap, but we believe that the benefits to be gained from being able to clearly set start times are much greater.

Additionally, with this format, we can schedule matches at better time slots

In the past, some matches were held on a Thursday afternoon due to broadcast scheduling conflicts. These afternoon matches consistently recorded low viewership, and it was difficult for the fans to attend the live events. Pro-players were also inconvenienced by this time slot, which required them to arrive at the venue much earlier than their normal schedule.

Split broadcasts would allow much more flexibility in planning, and we expect to take full advantage of this benefit to schedule matches at time slots that are most convenient for both the fans and pro-players.

Lastly, the split broadcast system has some advantages in itself. 

Assuming that the production quality of the new broadcaster will ramp up within a short period of time, players would now have two channels through which they can view high quality eSports broadcasts. Furthermore, in the long term we can expect to see incremental improvements to the LCK production quality resulting from healthy competition between the broadcasters. Some fans have voiced concerns about the potential complications that could arise due to this competition; and it would be Riot’s role to actively support the creation of positive synergy in this relationship.

There were also suggestions that a dual broadcast format (two broadcasters simultaneously broadcasting the same match) may be a better option. We agree that the dual broadcast format may also have its advantages, and we will continue to to explore this for the broader, long-term picture.

We know that this change in the broadcasting format cannot be a solution to all of the problems faced by LCK. Many fans have also told us of their disappointment at the lack of a proactive voice that clearly addressed even some of their basic questions and concerns related to live events, such as the price of tickets, ticket sales opening times, etc. Based on this need, Riot Games will make an effort to take more responsibility and assume a more proactive role in the management of the LCK, from live events to broadcasting elements. We will also receive all of the concerns and opinions that the fans have previously communicated directly to the broadcaster, and work to incorporate the feedback and continue to make improvements.

We are also aware that many fans have some apprehension about whether SPOTV may be the most suitable broadcaster for LCK. Some of the feedback pointed out that SPOTV’s previous LoL broadcast was relatively inferior in terms of overall production quality and the performance of its casters. We believe in SPOTV’s strong potential and possibility for future growth; as the only Korean channel dedicated to sports broadcasting, it has a solid track record of and accumulated experience in broadcasting various sports events and managing a wide range of sports leagues; experience that we expect would also be applicable to eSports.

However, we have taken serious consideration of these concerns, and have decided to focus on upgrading the LCK broadcast production quality, even if this takes additional time. For this reason, we have postponed the commencement of SPOTV’s split broadcast from LCK Spring to the Summer season. Until that time, Riot will support and help SPOTV with finding the right talent with Korean and English casting capabilities, building up the necessary infrastructure and data analysis skills. 

I would also like to address our relationship with OGN, a relationship that has inadvertently been portrayed as one of competition. OGN is a valued partner of Riot, and a trailblazer in the development of LoL eSports, which has delivered fans with a top-of-class eSports experience. On the basis of this partnership, we have already asked OGN to broadcast the major matches of 2016, such as the LCK Play-offs, LCK Championship, as well as the major global events such as the World Championship. 

This announcement of Riot’s position is not meant to take away from or divide up someone else’s achievement, but it is an attempt to bring everyone together to build the future of eSports. We value all of our partners: KeSPA, OGN, the various pro-teams and related organizations; and we consider everyone to be a companion with whom we are putting our heads together to create the further development and future of eSports. Within this camaraderie, Riot Games has also played its part in continuing to invest in the growth of eSports, both in size and quality, such as by subsidizing pro-team minimum pay requirements, broadcast production costs, and match prize money, among others.

At the Korea eSports Awards Ceremony this past November, I said, “eSports has been around in Korea for a long time, and LoL eSports was able to grow on this foundation. Now, it is time for us to think about what LoL could do to contribute to Korean eSports.” 

Riot Games believes in the potential of Korean eSports, including LoL eSports, for further growth in the future. In order to fully realize this potential, it is important that we do not rest within our current comfort zone of the familiar; we must never cease to change by continuing to challenge ourselves both within the game and outside of it. And in this process of change, we will never lose sight of, and will always humbly accept, the opinions of the fans, which we value above all else.