eSports/USA: ESPN acquires TV rights to the 2020 League of Legends Championship Series playoffs

The US pay-TV sports channel ESPN has acquired the rights to broadcast the 2020 League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) Spring Split playoffs in the United States from Riot Games, announced the US publisher on 08/04/2020.

The Spring Split as well as the finals will be broadcasted from 08 to 19/04/2020 on ESPN2, the ESPN app and via the digital platforms of the American group. The matches will also continue to be broadcast on Riot Games' Twitch and YouTube channels.

"This is not the first time that the LCS will appear on ESPN platforms, as Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, and ESPN had previously partnered to bring the LCS and League of Legends World Championship to the ESPN App and ESPN+ in 2019. This new deal will mark the first time League of Legends will air on ESPN linear television," said the US broadcaster on 08/04/2020.

By broadcasting the 2018 Overwatch League Finals on 27 and 28/07/2018, ESPN offered an eSports competition at prime time on a sports channel for the first time in the United States. The Walt Disney Company, a US conglomerate, had acquired the…