This week in Chinese esports: LCK, KGL

As part of our partnership with China Electronic Athletics, we’re now bringing you the biggest headlines from the esports industry in China every week. This week in Chinese esports includes the launch of KPL’s developmental league and HUYA acquiring the broadcast rights for LCK.

We also have a twice-weekly newsletter that informs you of every significant happening in the business and industry side of esports, the ESI Dispatch, please feel free to subscribe here.

Super Gen Group spends £137 million buying commercial land for esports projects

Super Gen Group, the parent company of Edward Gaming, spent 1.24 billion RMB (£137 million) to buy commercial land to launch esports projects. According to the announcement, such projects include esports business management, esports education, esports tournaments, esports movies and animation, and esports live streaming. Super Gen Group will also introduce a domestic esports organisation to the area. 

With the guidance of establishing the global esports capital within three to five years, Shanghai has published a task table for 2019-2020, which clarifies the specific tasks for each district in Shanghai.

China Electronic Athletics says: When esports gets more commercial resources and practitioners have enough time to observe the whole industry, they will likely go back to their familiar industries and integrate with esports.

Tencent announces the launch of first KGL

The KPL G-League, a development league of King Pro League, was launched on Oct. 29th. The league will integrate youth players from China, Korea, and other countries with the aim of cultivating new professional players and clubs for the premier league.

The first KGL will include 15 clubs from the KPL and seven clubs from KRKPL, only allowing youth players from each club to participate. Since July, most secondary leagues for Honor of Kings have been gradually replaced by developmental leagues and the transition will complete in the next year.

China Electronic Athletics says: The launch of KGL helps domestic secondary leagues to position themselves between the public and the profession. It can also help KPL to cultivate players systematically. However, the successful launch of KGL and its future may depend on the number of scouts in each club and their abilities.

HUYA signed a three-year exclusive deal with Riot Games

Chinese live streaming Huya signed a three-year exclusive deal with Riot Games China to broadcast the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK). The deal allows HUYA to have exclusive broadcasting rights through 2022.

Hongliang Gao, Vice President of HUYA commented: “Huya will arrange streamers and influencers to actively participate in the official events and deepen the partnerships with official programs in the next three years. For broadcasting technology, Huya will be dedicated to improving the live streaming quality and experience.”

China Electronic Athletics says: When LCK is no longer called the best region for League of Legends, we are not sure the exclusive rights can help HUYA to occupy the market. However, if the rights can help HUYA to gather numerous esports content producers and influencers, the deal will become much more meaningful. Getting exclusive broadcasting rights is a common method for live streaming platforms in their attempt to build a monopoly. They perhaps need to understand that the key to the monopoly is attracting talent.

Contact China Electronic Athletics:
Wechat public account: china_ea
Contact Name: Xiang Shi
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe to ESI on YouTube