TL;DR
- Riot Games extended exclusive LEC and LCS broadcast rights to Chinese streaming giant HUYA
- Chinese fans gain unprecedented access to Western League of Legends competitions starting January 2020
- Partnership provides strategic advantages for Chinese pro teams analyzing international opponents
- HUYA now covers major global leagues including LCK, LPL, LEC, and LCS
- Move bridges platform gap between Western and Chinese streaming ecosystems
Riot Games has significantly expanded its collaboration with Chinese streaming powerhouse HUYA, now encompassing exclusive broadcasting rights for both LCS and LEC competitions.
China represents the largest concentration of League of Legends players globally, creating substantial demand for Western professional league content. The enhanced agreement positions HUYA as the definitive platform for Chinese viewers seeking to follow North American and European competitive scenes. This strategic move addresses the growing appetite among Chinese esports enthusiasts for international League of Legends content beyond their domestic LPL league.
HUYA’s existing portfolio already included comprehensive coverage of Korea’s LCK league and served as primary broadcaster for China’s LPL. The platform recently forged additional connections with Western organizations through its partnership with Team Liquid for LCS team-specific content. As the 2020 competitive season commences, Riot continues bridging geographical divides by delivering Western League content directly to Chinese audiences.
“Recent international tournaments like the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational and World Championships demonstrated that North American and European squads are mounting serious challenges to Asian regional dominance,” Riot officials stated in their official announcement. “Our collaboration with HUYA enables Chinese fans to witness the development of compelling Western rivalries while tracking the innovative playstyles and draft strategies these teams will showcase on global stages.”
China’s digital ecosystem operates through fundamentally different platforms compared to Western services, making this partnership particularly significant for League enthusiasts following LEC and LCS teams. Professional Chinese players now gain streamlined access to study international opponents’ strategic approaches, meta developments, and gameplay patterns. This intelligence advantage facilitates superior preparation for international competitions while maintaining awareness of global League of Legends evolution.
Similar to Western viewing habits, Chinese audiences can now watch the 2020 LCS Spring Split and 2020 LEC Spring Split commencing January 24 for LEC matches, followed by LCS coverage starting the subsequent day. The timing aligns perfectly with the new competitive season, ensuring fans don’t miss any crucial early-season developments.
This broadcasting expansion creates unprecedented cross-regional analysis opportunities. Chinese teams can now systematically study Western drafting tendencies, jungle pathing patterns, and objective control strategies without relying solely on international tournament footage. For comprehensive guidance on competitive gameplay strategies, check out our Complete Guide to strategic decision-making in esports titles.
The partnership also signals Riot’s commitment to globalizing their esports product beyond traditional regional boundaries. As meta developments increasingly cross-pollinate between regions, access to diverse competitive content becomes crucial for maintaining strategic relevance. Explore advanced tactical approaches in our Weapons Unlock guide for competitive advantages.
Action Checklist
- Access HUYA platform through official app or website for LEC/LCS streams
- Follow official LEC and LCS broadcast schedules accounting for timezone differences
- Analyze Western team strategies for international tournament preparation
- Compare meta developments between LPL, LCK, LEC, and LCS
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Chinese League fans are getting a new way to watch LCS and LEC How Riot's HUYA partnership expands LEC and LCS global reach for Chinese League fans