TL;DR
- 2020 LCS Summer Split achieved 35 million total hours watched, a 72% year-over-year increase
- New double-elimination playoff format created more compelling storylines and higher stakes
- Average per-minute audience for finals reached 485,000, up 27.47% from 2019
- Peak viewership hit 551,679 despite entirely remote production
- Format changes eliminated safety nets, making every match critically important
The 2020 LCS Summer Split defied expectations by delivering the highest viewership numbers since 2016, despite being conducted entirely through remote production. Riot Games’ transparency in sharing viewership data revealed remarkable growth patterns that provide valuable lessons for esports broadcasting.
Behind the Numbers: A Record-Breaking 2020
#LCS
Summer Split???? :
https://t.co/uJfNTAUDgS
pic.twitter.com/0X8kEmfwLn— LCS (@LCSOfficial)
September 22, 2020
Riot maintained exceptional transparency throughout the season regarding LCS and LEC viewership metrics, likely because the numbers demonstrated strong positive momentum. The data revealed significant increases across multiple measurement categories, with total hours watched showing particularly impressive growth.
2020 LCS Summer Split is the most watched since 2016
The LCS summer split accumulated approximately 35 million total viewing hours, representing a massive 72% surge compared to the previous year. This explosive growth positioned the 2020 season as the most-watched LCS split in four years, marking a significant milestone for North American League of Legends esports.
The playoff format proved particularly compelling for viewers. The championship final between Team SoloMid and FlyQuest attracted an average per-minute audience of nearly 485,000 concurrent viewers, representing a 27.47% jump from the 2019 summer finals. The peak viewership across both regular season and playoffs reached 551,679, a 12.4% improvement over 2019. However, these impressive numbers still trail behind the LEC, which achieved nearly one million peak viewers during their 2020 season.
Several strategic factors converged to create this viewership phenomenon. The newly implemented double-elimination playoff structure dramatically increased the number of high-stakes matches while generating compelling narrative arcs that wouldn’t have emerged under previous formats. The elimination of Regional Qualifiers meant every playoff game carried World Championship implications, creating unprecedented tension throughout the postseason.
The competitive landscape featured remarkably balanced team talent, resulting in five playoff series that extended to decisive fifth games. This parity kept fans engaged throughout the entire playoffs, as outcomes remained unpredictable until the final moments. The high stakes were exemplified by Cloud9’s shocking elimination from Worlds contention despite being spring split champions.
The playoff format successfully maintained viewer engagement from beginning to end. Fans remained captivated throughout the postseason, with excitement building steadily toward the championship match. This sustained interest demonstrates how format design can significantly impact audience retention throughout a tournament lifecycle.
The 2020 LCS success provides actionable insights for esports organizers. The double-elimination format’s success suggests that providing teams with second chances while maintaining high stakes creates optimal dramatic tension. The complete integration of regular season performance with Worlds qualification eliminated meaningless matches and maintained consistent viewer investment.
For broadcasters seeking to replicate this success, focusing on creating meaningful stakes in every match proves crucial. The elimination of safety nets like Regional Qualifiers meant that every playoff game carried season-defining consequences, keeping audiences emotionally invested throughout. These lessons about tournament structure optimization apply broadly across competitive gaming.
The viewership trajectory indicates strong momentum for North American League of Legends, though continued innovation will be necessary to close the gap with European viewership numbers. The remote production success also demonstrates that high-quality esports broadcasting can maintain audience engagement regardless of physical location constraints.
Action Checklist
- Analyze your current tournament format for dead matches or meaningless games
- Identify opportunities to integrate regular season performance with major tournament qualification
- Establish transparent metrics tracking similar to Riot’s approach
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Riot sees big increase in viewership for 2020 LCS Summer Split How the 2020 LCS Summer Split achieved record viewership despite remote play and format changes