What’s next for LCS broadcasts?

Tons of damage, tons of puns, tons of memories:

Thank you for your countless contributions to @lolesports and the #LCS, @RiotPhreak. Best of luck as you move on to the @LeagueofLegends team! ♥ pic.twitter.com/sMYD3CxfRZ

— LCS (@LCSOfficial) December 9, 2022

Concurrent with these changes, the LCS has lost a legendary talent that has been a part of LCS since its inception. Host David “Phreak” Turley will no longer cast the league, but instead will focus on game design in Riot’s Summoner’s Rift team.

And he’s not the only one departing LCS. Next is host James “Dash” Patterson, who was synonymous with the league for years. He was usually the first face you saw at the counter and the last to wave goodbye. He was the American equivalent of Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere, who has long been the host and face of the LEC.

LCS no longer wants to be a traditional sports show

A sports show tradition has a long-lasting tradition in America and before the LCS rebranded in 2021, viewers drew comparisons to traditional sports shows such as ESPN and Sportscenter. According to some, the segments with the analyst desk and the general look and feel of the show were too closely resembling traditional sports shows. As a result, the LCS was unable to develop its own identity, unlike in other regions around the world.

For example, LEC knows how to connect its casters and players with the fan base and draws from the personalities of its players and casters to create hilarious videos and skits. Meanwhile, the LPL expresses its identity through fire-based graphics and videos that underscore its explosiveness and intensity. In the LCK, on ​​the other hand, you rely on minimalist graphics, as if you didn’t want to distract from the gameplay.

Can the LCS set a new trend?

While the LCS is slowly but surely breaking away from the traditional broadcast style with a new look featuring sharper and more modern designs, it could go one step further. It could move away from the familiar format of a single host and into one with a group of rotating hosts and casters. Broadcasts have become much more dynamic now, with different casters and analysts bringing different viewpoints, opinions, and understandings.

It’s interesting to see different broadcast styles that continue to develop. Maybe the LCS will find its own identity better with a team-based cast. We are excited to see how the system will work and look forward to the start of the LCS on January 26!

Header: twitter.com/LCSOfficial