Historically, the LPL has always been viewed as a direct competitor to the LCK in terms of its standing in the League of Legends community. Both regions aim to assert their influence on the global League of Legends stage, not just in terms of titles won at international events. In fact, both LPL and LCK have effectively achieved this goal. However, LPL seems to be showing signs of fatigue and has historically never truly reached the same level of achievement as the LCK.
Nevertheless, with substantial financial backing and “support” from Tencent (the company that currently owns Riot), LPL has always been a strong contender. However, following the conclusion of the 2023 season after Worlds, LPL has received some very bad news. Specifically, according to various insiders from the land of a billion people, LPL may soon no longer be broadcast live. Fans wishing to follow the tournament will only be able to check the final scores. This has already been implemented at the recent All-Stars event held in LPL.
However, in another stream of information, the tournament may still be broadcast live but with an indefinite delay. This avenue is seen as more reasonable since the LPL has been around for a long time and is considered an essential event for esports in the land of a billion people. If LPL does face delays, it may be due to the tournament needing to prepare and obtain special licenses as required by authorities for a continental-level event.
Previously, when the news about LPL not being broadcast from 2024 was released, many fans were extremely confused. In fact, on some forums, LPL fans speculated that it could be due to the League of Legends Worlds 2023 featuring a popular girl group. The issue lies in the fact that this girl group has previously been involved in controversy and disputes between the Chinese and Korean regions. Furthermore, the group was heavily criticized by LPL fans due to that incident. However, all parties involved have yet to provide a clear answer, and the rumor remains just that—a rumor.
Regardless, this news has truly left many international fans feeling bewildered. Although the actual viewer numbers for LPL events have never been publicly disclosed, it cannot be denied that the success of League of Legends owes a great deal to the contributions of Chinese teams.
Not to mention, the lack of LPL broadcasts could directly impact the revenue of the teams. League of Legends and esports, in general, have never truly been a profitable investment, and if teams face difficulties, it is the LPL that will suffer the most severe losses.