• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 11:51
CEST 17:51
KST 00:51
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon9[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Ascent10Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview12[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt2: Take-Off7[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt1: Runway13
Community News
SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia7Weekly Cups (Sept 1-7): MaxPax rebounds & Clem saga continues26LiuLi Cup - September 2025 Tournaments3Weekly Cups (August 25-31): Clem's Last Straw?39Weekly Cups (Aug 18-24): herO dethrones MaxPax6
StarCraft 2
General
Weekly Cups (Sept 1-7): MaxPax rebounds & Clem saga continues #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time Team Liquid Map Contest #21 - Presented by Monster Energy Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon What happened to Singapore/Brazil servers?
Tourneys
Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series WardiTV TL Team Map Contest #5 Tournaments Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 490 Masters of Midnight Mutation # 489 Bannable Offense Mutation # 488 What Goes Around Mutation # 487 Think Fast
Brood War
General
Pros React To: SoulKey's 5-Peat Challenge ASL20 General Discussion BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BSL Team Wars - Bonyth, Dewalt, Hawk & Sziky teams
Tourneys
[ASL20] Ro16 Group B [ASL20] Ro16 Group A [Megathread] Daily Proleagues SC4ALL $1,500 Open Bracket LAN
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
Borderlands 3 Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Big Programming Thread US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine The Games Industry And ATVI
Fan Clubs
The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread High temperatures on bridge(s)
TL Community
BarCraft in Tokyo Japan for ASL Season5 Final The Automated Ban List
Blogs
The Personality of a Spender…
TrAiDoS
A very expensive lesson on ma…
Garnet
hello world
radishsoup
Lemme tell you a thing o…
JoinTheRain
RTS Design in Hypercoven
a11
Evil Gacha Games and the…
ffswowsucks
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1537 users

Pro Gaming Structure

Forum Index > BW General
Post a Reply
tenringer
Profile Joined April 2006
United States31 Posts
January 09 2007 04:55 GMT
#1
While StarCraft was my first love, over the years I turned into more of an fps player and my main game currently is counter-strike. There's been a lot of turmoil going on in the cs scene lately, including the announcement of a league to be run by DirecTV. It's possible that they will end up running a draft, making new teams, and paying the managers directly. While not very many people seem to be very happy about this league structure it hasn't occurred to anyone to look at the pro gaming structure which already exists.

Now I still follow the starcraft scene but I guess I never really understood the exact structure, so I have a few questions:

Who puts on the tournaments? TV stations or independents or what?
Who pays the teams besides prize money? I know they have sponsors and some teams have more money than others but is this their only source of income?
How would a new team become professional?
How does an average gamer make it to professional status/get on a pro team?
il0seonpurpose
Profile Blog Joined January 2007
Korea (South)5638 Posts
January 09 2007 05:01 GMT
#2
1. mbc is mostly the starcraft channel, there are others that just show starcraft
2. yeah, big sponsers i guess, like samsung and skt1, so much money
3. idk
4. its suppose to be a secret but if ur rreally good, then i think they ask u to play some games (like draco and suncow) and basically draco had good manner and suncow was being a retard.
then u sign a contract lol idk something like that
QuietIdiot
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
7004 Posts
January 09 2007 05:03 GMT
#3
I think for the last one, you have to gain membership as a practice partner, work your way up, just like Nal_keke did or Nal_draco. However, a team can only grant 2 licenses a year for a guy so you have to have exceptional skills. Or you could try your luck at the massive Courage League where everyone has like a 2% chance of winning -_-
thedeadhaji *
Profile Blog Joined January 2006
39489 Posts
January 09 2007 05:10 GMT
#4
Two Individual Leagues, MSL and OSL, aired by MBC game and Ongamenet, respectively. 3 seasons per year, winter, summer and fall. Each season is sponsored by a corporation.

Their is also Proleague, which is a team league.

Prize money is given to the top finishers, but on top of that, gamers are paid a certain amount per match. Sponsors provide the team with living accomodations and salary.
cYaN
Profile Joined May 2004
Norway3322 Posts
January 09 2007 05:11 GMT
#5
I assume you're speaking about the korean scene.
MBCgame and OGN put on all the Korean tournaments/league (with very few exceptions, in which case it's the pro teams themselves. Superfights (CJ) and KT KTF.
Sponsors. Pretty much every team is named after their main sponsor. OGN Sparkys is obviously mainly supported by OGN.
A new team become pros? put enough money into it and i'm sure KeSPA would ackknowledge it.
An average game has to make himself a mark in the scene.... then join a team as a training partner, win (or do very well) in a courage tournament and then official sign for a team as a progamer (in viture of his winning the courage)
thedeadhaji *
Profile Blog Joined January 2006
39489 Posts
January 09 2007 05:15 GMT
#6
I just remembered that teh proteams must pay Kespa a certain sum every year... i think it was $20K?

I remember Samsung was squabbling about this with Kespa a month ago.
tenringer
Profile Joined April 2006
United States31 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-01-09 05:29:57
January 09 2007 05:16 GMT
#7
thanks for the help

i guess i worded my first question wrong. Do MBC and OGL run the msl/osl/starleague or are they run separately and work together? Example, the nfl is run on its own and works together with different tv stations (cbs, fox, espn etc) for broadcasting. In this new DTV league for cs the station would also own the league.

also what is kespa?
alffla
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Hong Kong20321 Posts
January 09 2007 08:55 GMT
#8
On January 09 2007 14:16 tenringer wrote:
thanks for the help

i guess i worded my first question wrong. Do MBC and OGL run the msl/osl/starleague or are they run separately and work together? Example, the nfl is run on its own and works together with different tv stations (cbs, fox, espn etc) for broadcasting. In this new DTV league for cs the station would also own the league.

also what is kespa?


they run seperately and its OSL not OGL hahah "OnGameNet StarLeague
they are basically 2 different SC channels, 2 different sets of leagues.

kespa is the Korean e-sports players association
Graphicssavior[gm] : What is a “yawn” rape ;; Masumune - It was the year of the pig for those fucking defilers. Chill - A clinic you say? okum: SC without Korean yelling is like porn without sex. konamix: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!
tenringer
Profile Joined April 2006
United States31 Posts
January 09 2007 11:57 GMT
#9
yeah my bad ogl was a muscle memory typo. thanks for the help
HonestTea *
Profile Blog Joined December 2005
5007 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-01-09 13:00:45
January 09 2007 12:32 GMT
#10
There are four interrelated parties to the progaming scene.

1. KESPA - the overseeing organization.

The Korean E-Sports Association oversees all progaming in Korea. To run a tournament, the broadcasters need Kespa approval. This means the games follow Kespa rules, there is always a Kespa referee present, and the players and teams must be registered with Kespa to participate.

2. The Braodcasters/Leagues

Currently, there are three leagues, each with their own structure.

a. MSL (and Survivor League). The MSL is organized and funded by MBCgame. MBCgame is a cable channel that specializes in game-related programming. They fund and organize their own tournament as original created content for their channel. The MSL has the approval and supervision of Kespa. Only Kespa-registered progamers can participate. This model is the same as the DirecTV/Counter-strike model you mention.

b. OSL (and Dual League). Up till last year, OSL was also organized and funded by the cable channel it was broadcasted on - Ongamenet. However, beginning this year, Shinhan Bank stepped in to co-sponsor the funding duties. The Current OSL is under the funding of Shinhan Bank. Ongamenet's responsibility is to run and broadcast the thing. It's sort of like the NFL - ESPN relationship, except Ongamenet is more invovled in the actual running of the tournament. Like the MSL, the OSL is Kespa-approved.

c. Proleague. The proleague is entirely run by Kespa, and broadcasted on Ongamenet and MBCgame. The relationship between proleague and the TV channels is exactly like NFL and network television.

[edit]
d. forgot to mention SuperFights. Superfights are also organized by a cable channel: CJ Media. So the structure is alike to MSL - organized and funded by the same channel that the games are shown on. And with the Kespa stamp of approval.


3. The Teams.

To become a proleague team, you must register at Kespa. There are a few requirements, namely a minimum required number of players, a registered coach and assistant coach, guaranteed practice facilities, and a yearly payment to the Kespa fund.

Currently, all 11 progaming teams are being sponsored by parent companies. These companies range from non-gaming-specific household Korean brands (SKT, KTF, CJ) to smaller gaming-specific companies (MBCgame, Hanbit Sotfware, E-Stro). Why do companies pay yearly salaries to progamers? Mostly for the advertising effec (think of F1 racing). Also, companies that sponsor progaming teams get some tax breaks for their contributions from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

4. Players.

Kespa rules offer a few specific ways to earn progamer status. You can pass the Monthly Courage Tournament (I guess it's sort of like passing bar to be a lawyer). You can place high in a minimum number of amateur tournaments to get semi-pro status. Or one of the teams can use their exceptions (each team has 2 per year) to select you to their roster. Of course, you must be very skilled to get a team to use their exception on you. (such as a prominent practice partner)


How does the money flow?

Kespa gets money from each of the proteams. It also gets money from the Ministry of Culture and Education (Or was it the Ministry of InfoTech... can't remember. Either one)

The Tournaments get money from their sponsors. For examply, last MSL was called "PRINGLES MSL." P&G Korea paid good money to MSL to have their name there. In turn, they dish out appearance fees and tournament winnings.

The Broadcasters get money from the advertising revenue that they get while showing the tournaments. In theory, they should pay the tournament organizers for the rights to show their games. But, in the case of the MSL, and OSL, the tournament organizers ARE the broadcasters.

The Teams get prize money from winning tournaments, plus an appearance fee for each game they play on TV. Teams also get much money from their corporate sponsors. At the same time, each team must pay a tax to Kespa.

The Players get prize money and appearance fees as well. Players on sponsored teams also receive fixed salaries from their parent companies. In many cases, there will be incentives written into the players' contracts, so they will get extra money for winning tournaments or MVP awards and such.
returns upon momentous occasions.
siro)
Profile Joined January 2006
Australia848 Posts
January 09 2007 12:38 GMT
#11
HT wins
tenringer
Profile Joined April 2006
United States31 Posts
January 09 2007 12:44 GMT
#12
i love you HT
HonestTea *
Profile Blog Joined December 2005
5007 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-01-09 12:49:33
January 09 2007 12:48 GMT
#13
Anyway, for what its worth, the DirecTV - CS model would look a lot like early progaming in Korea, like around '98, '99.

Back then, it was one channel (not even a gaming-only channel; it was the anime channel Tooniverse) that decided to show competitive gaming on TV.

Tooniverse played the roles of Kespa, the broadcasters, and the tournaments all at the same time. They decided the format/rules of the tournament, and who would play, and then they showed it as original content to get viewers. And of course, viewers = advertising money.

There weren't even teams back then. It was just Tooniverse and the players.

I guess that grew into the institutionalized monster that we have now.

Regardless, glad to be of your service. ^_^
returns upon momentous occasions.
Liquid`Jinro
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Sweden33719 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-01-09 13:00:49
January 09 2007 12:56 GMT
#14
EDIT:
Just saw honestea's post - it probably covers everything I mentioned and with far greater accuracy most likely (I haven't read it yet) If anything I said contradicts honstea's post it's probably best to assume that he's right!



On January 09 2007 14:01 il0seonpurpose wrote:
1. mbc is mostly the starcraft channel, there are others that just show starcraft
2. yeah, big sponsers i guess, like samsung and skt1, so much money
3. idk
4. its suppose to be a secret but if ur rreally good, then i think they ask u to play some games (like draco and suncow) and basically draco had good manner and suncow was being a retard.
then u sign a contract lol idk something like that

MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, nonono.
1) MBC and Ongamenet are the main starcraft channels, they host the biggest leagues, but the sponsors are generally big corporations.

2) Teams are sponsored by, again, big businesses for the most part. And yea, this is the players main source of income, they have a set salary.

3) I don't know how exactly, but presumably they'd need to register with the KESPA (korean esports association, formerly KPGA I think?) somehow? I have no real idea actually, but I guess they'd have to be recognized by them, as they are the governing entity of progaming in korea I believe?

4) You have to acquire a sem-pro license at first (at least I think they still make the distincton between pro and semi pro), which is primarily done by winning the Courage League which takes place once a month.

There's also Elite (unsure about details), and various other events that happen a few times a year in which you can be gain the status of semi-pro.

Teams can also grant a certain number (unsure how many) of players pro-status. EDIT: Honstea says 2 so there it is!

To become a full pro I believe you have to be drafted by one of the teams, I'm not sure how often there's a draft - monthly?

In order to play in the OGN and MBC offline prelims I think you have to hold a semi-pro license.
Moderatortell the guy that interplanatar interaction is pivotal to terrans variety of optionitudals in the pre-midgame preperatories as well as the protosstinal deterriggation of elite zergling strikes - Stimey n | Formerly FrozenArbiter
Manifesto7
Profile Blog Joined November 2002
Osaka27151 Posts
January 09 2007 13:19 GMT
#15
Honestea wins the universe.
ModeratorGodfather
KizZBG
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
u gotta skate8152 Posts
January 09 2007 15:43 GMT
#16
That was interesting to read HT. Thanks.
eSTRO for life | #2 Sea.Really fan! | #1 GosI[Flying] fan! | Clide - best SC2 terran!
gravity
Profile Joined March 2004
Australia1912 Posts
January 09 2007 19:19 GMT
#17
Thanks HonestTea, nice to see a clear explanation of it all in one place.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Maestros of the Game
13:00
Playoffs - Round of 8
ShoWTimE vs herOLIVE!
TBD vs Serral
TBD vs Zoun
ComeBackTV 1551
RotterdaM985
WardiTV471
IndyStarCraft 359
PiGStarcraft356
SteadfastSC236
Rex184
CranKy Ducklings140
EnkiAlexander 85
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RotterdaM 985
IndyStarCraft 359
PiGStarcraft356
SteadfastSC 236
Rex 184
StarCraft: Brood War
ggaemo 111
sSak 89
Hyun 78
Sea.KH 50
zelot 45
yabsab 17
Shine 16
Terrorterran 12
Hm[arnc] 10
Noble 4
Dota 2
The International194473
Gorgc17359
Dendi1061
BananaSlamJamma150
PGG 47
LuMiX0
Counter-Strike
flusha161
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King77
Chillindude18
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor126
Other Games
tarik_tv29605
gofns21468
B2W.Neo963
Mlord479
Hui .271
KnowMe180
mouzStarbuck141
ArmadaUGS61
ToD60
NeuroSwarm35
SortOf17
Trikslyr16
fpsfer 1
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick604
EGCTV407
BasetradeTV8
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• LUISG 7
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• sooper7s
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Michael_bg 6
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• Ler93
• Noizen60
League of Legends
• Jankos2084
Other Games
• Shiphtur189
Upcoming Events
BSL Team Wars
3h 9m
Afreeca Starleague
18h 9m
Snow vs Sharp
Jaedong vs Mini
Wardi Open
19h 9m
OSC
1d 8h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 18h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 18h
Light vs Speed
Larva vs Soma
PiGosaur Monday
2 days
LiuLi Cup
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Maru vs Reynor
Cure vs TriGGeR
The PondCast
3 days
[ Show More ]
RSL Revival
4 days
Zoun vs Classic
Korean StarCraft League
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
[BSL 2025] Weekly
6 days
BSL Team Wars
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-09-10
SEL Season 2 Championship
HCC Europe

Ongoing

BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Points
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
LASL Season 20
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
Chzzk MurlocKing SC1 vs SC2 Cup #2
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1

Upcoming

2025 Chongqing Offline CUP
BSL Polish World Championship 2025
IPSL Winter 2025-26
BSL Season 21
SC4ALL: Brood War
BSL 21 Team A
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
EC S1
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
MESA Nomadic Masters Fall
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.