ESPN has announced with Riot Games, beginning on 8 April, ESPN will broadcast LCS Spring Split Playoffs.
Throughout the rest of the season, ESPN operates in the United States as an official linear and authenticated streaming network.
The deal will start with 100 Thieves playing TSM, which will broadcast live on the ESPN.com platform and the ESPN2.
The latter being the venue for each game “immediately after the race.” ESPN Digital Programming Vice President John Lasker commented in a statement of the decision. “We are eager to partner with Riot Games to develop creative content experiences for these unique franchise systems. The LCS Spring Split playoff helps ESPN to reach new audiences for one of the most popular sports in the world.’
Earlier this year the Riot Games relationship for Nielsen has been extended to create a new LCS viewership network. Titled ‘Live+,’ the programme tests VOD viewing ‘more precisely than ever.’
Chrís Greeley, the Riot Games LCS Commissioner, added: ‘To watch and appreciate the stars of competitive gaming, it is now more than ever possible to unite us as a group. We are delighted, through this collaboration, to deliver the best LCS for new viewers and current fans and look forward to some highly professional Rift games as we reward a new Spring champion..”
