TL;DR
- Gen.G and T1 offered to cover all English broadcast costs after KeSPA’s cancellation
- LCK caster Max ‘Atlus’ Anderson revealed the broadcast cut on Twitter, sparking fan outrage
- Both organizations have strong business incentives to maintain Western audience access
- KeSPA Cup provides crucial early previews of 2020 LCK roster changes
- The tournament features 20 teams in single-elimination format starting December 23
In an unprecedented move within esports broadcasting, powerhouse organizations Gen.G and T1 jointly proposed covering the complete production expenses for the 2019 KeSPA Cup English coverage after its sudden cancellation.
The controversy ignited when LCK English broadcast talent Max “Atlus” Anderson disclosed via Twitter that Korea Esports Association had terminated the international broadcast plans entirely. This decision also prevented official restreaming of the Korean-language coverage, effectively blocking global League of Legends enthusiasts from watching the year’s final competitive tournament.
Gen.G’s Chief Operating Officer Arnold Hur immediately challenged the licensing rationale behind this move. His public questioning prompted T1 CEO Joe Marsh to personally contact KeSPA leadership with a concrete financial solution: splitting the broadcast costs between their two organizations to restore access.
As of the latest updates, KeSPA officials have maintained radio silence regarding the corporate sponsorship proposal.
The KeSPA Cup serves as the premier showcase for LCK team roster developments heading into the 2020 competitive season. Both Gen.G and T1 maintain particularly strong vested interests in preserving Western audience accessibility.
These organizations share significant ownership stakes from American corporate entities, driving their aggressive recent expansions into North American markets. T1 has systematically increased international content visibility through translated player vlogs and highlighted stream moments. Meanwhile, Gen.G has pursued diversification by acquiring competitive rosters in prominent Western titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty.
Every participating LCK squad benefits from supporting English broadcast availability. Expanding international viewership directly strengthens brand recognition and sponsorship appeal for all teams involved.
Broadening LCK and KeSPA Cup accessibility represents a strategic method for attracting wider global audiences. The Korean competitive circuit consistently features some of the world’s most celebrated professional players and legendary organizations.
The 2019 KeSPA Cup competition launches on December 23rd with participation from twenty elite teams. This includes every organization that competed during the 2019 LCK Summer split, making it a comprehensive preview of upcoming season dynamics. The event structure employs single-elimination brackets, with opening round matches following best-of-three formats.
For international viewers, this tournament offers invaluable insights into off-season roster shuffles and strategic developments. Watching these matches can provide competitive advantages for understanding meta shifts before the 2020 season begins. Many analysts consider KeSPA Cup performances reliable indicators of team form heading into regular season play.
Pro tip: Focus on how new player acquisitions integrate with existing rosters during early matches. This reveals coaching staff strategies and team synergy development that will impact LCK standings.
Action Checklist
- Monitor KeSPA’s official channels for broadcast decision updates
- Follow Gen.G and T1 social media for sponsorship developments
- Review participating team roster changes before tournament start
- Identify key player matchups in first-round best-of-three series
- Analyze team strategies for insights into 2020 LCK meta trends
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » T1 and Gen.G push for 2019 KeSPA Cup English broadcast to return How Gen.G and T1 stepped up to save English broadcast access for international League of Legends fans