• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 04:23
CEST 10:23
KST 17:23
  • 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
Serral wins EWC 202515Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 20259Power Rank - Esports World Cup 202580RSL Season 1 - Final Week9[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15
Community News
[BSL 2025] H2 - Team Wars, Weeklies & SB Ladder2EWC 2025 - Replay Pack2Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced27BSL Team Wars - Bonyth, Dewalt, Hawk & Sziky teams10Weekly Cups (July 14-20): Final Check-up0
StarCraft 2
General
Serral wins EWC 2025 #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time Greatest Players of All Time: 2025 Update Power Rank - Esports World Cup 2025 EWC 2025 - Replay Pack
Tourneys
FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $10,000 live event TaeJa vs Creator Bo7 SC Evo Showmatch Esports World Cup 2025 $25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced $5,000 WardiTV Summer Championship 2025
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 484 Magnetic Pull Mutation #239 Bad Weather Mutation # 483 Kill Bot Wars Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune
Brood War
General
Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced Shield Battery Server New Patch BW General Discussion [BSL 2025] H2 - Team Wars, Weeklies & SB Ladder BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China CSL Xiamen International Invitational [CSLPRO] It's CSLAN Season! - Last Chance
Strategy
Does 1 second matter in StarCraft? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Total Annihilation Server - TAForever [MMORPG] Tree of Savior (Successor of Ragnarok) Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
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 Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
UK Politics Mega-thread US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
INnoVation Fan Club SKT1 Classic Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Korean Music Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Gtx660 graphics card replacement Installation of Windows 10 suck at "just a moment" Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
TeamLiquid Team Shirt On Sale The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Ping To Win? Pings And Their…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Socialism Anyone?
GreenHorizons
Eight Anniversary as a TL…
Mizenhauer
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 617 users

ProLeague Broadcast Rights Controversy

Forum Index > News
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next All
uhjoo
Profile Joined October 2004
Korea (South)1740 Posts
February 20 2007 22:21 GMT
#1
Waxangel posted about this big news here, and asked someone else to do a write up. I don't know if I can add much more, but let me give it a shot.

The Players

KeSPA: (Korean e-sports pro-gaming association) Made up of representatives from the corporate sponsors of all of the pro-teams. So SKT has a rep, KTF has a rep, etc. KeSPA is made up of a board of directors (comprised by the reps from the various sponsor corporations), and a managerial staff, who run the day-to-day operations.

OGN and MBC: The two major game-specialist broadcast companies in Korea

IEG : A sports marketing and management company, who have been involved in sports marketing for various other Korean sports leagues, i.e. soccer and baseball. They are also the parent company of the progaming team eSTRO (formerly eNature, formerly AMD).

The Story:

1) KeSPA claims the broadcast rights to the Proleague.

2) KeSPA recently auctioned off the broadcast rights.

This is standard practice in other professional sports, i.e. baseball, basketball, football, etc. Normally, a broadcast company "buys" those rights-- for example, the NFL auctions off the broadcast rights to CBS or NBC or whatever.

3) IEG, the sole bidder for these rights, bought them from KeSPA.

The obvious issue here is that OGN and MBC refused to bid on the broadcast rights.

The Problem:

The Proleague is managed almost entirely by the broadcast companies, OGN and MBC. They provide the stadiums, the maps, the schedule, advertising, promotion, etc. Their stance is that it is ridiculous that they have to pay for broadcast rights when it is essentially their league, that they built up from scratch (back in the day there used to be two separate leagues, one for each station, but they joined the two into the current Proleague under the auspices of KeSPA). OGN and MBC thus refused to bid on the rights, and they are also refusing to buy the rights from IEG as well.

The Future?

Everything is up in the air at this point. Here are some possible scenarios:

1) The Proleague is cancelled. If OGN and MBC stick to their guns, no one would be there to manage the league, provide the maps, etc. It could mean the end of the Proleague, period.

2) The Proleague continues, but not on OGN/MBC. IEG sells the broadcast rights to some channel out there that buys these rights (or pay a broadcast fee) and broadcasts the league (CJ, which is planning to launch a game channel soon, would be a possible buyer). This is highly unlikely, however, since no other entity has the experience and infrastructure in place to manage the Proleague.

3) OGN/MBC buys the broadcast rights and continue as in the past. The only difference from the past is that they would be paying a broadcast fee to IEG, or having to buy the broadcast rights outright. They are both adamantly refusing to do so, out of principle as well as profit logic (they claim that paying a broadcast fee/buying the rights will make the Proleague non-profitable)

3) The Proleague, as we know it, ends, and OGN and MBC set up their own team leagues, as in the past. This, too, is unlikely: one of the reasons they joined to make this one Proleague is that running individual leagues was not very profitable.

4) IEG, KeSPA, and OGN/MBC come to some agreeable arrangement and the Proleague continues unabated. This would require alot of deal making and compromise.

At any length, this issue has huge ramifications for e-sports. The worst case scenario is that the Proleague is disbanded, which would have huge reverberating effects on starcraft progaming. For example, sponsors for the Proleague, as well as the companies sponsoring proteams would be scared off and would cut back (and perhaps not renew their investment). End of SC progaming.

Many observers in Korea generally seem to side with the broadcast companies, saying that e-sports is not like other sports, since the broadcast companies actually manage, organize, and run the leagues, unlike in, say, American football, where the NFL does that and the channels can just focus on broadcasting. Thus, KeSPA auctioning off broadcast rights is just stupid.

KeSPA, for their part, are defending their actions by saying they are laying the groundwork for even more professionalization of e-Sports.

That's the long and short of it. Slightly confusing? Sorry. But a one-sentence summary is basically that KeSPA and the broadcast companies are warring over broadcast rights, and potentially this could mean the end of SC progaming. It's big news.
i want bubbles the warrior monkey back
alffla
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Hong Kong20321 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-02-20 22:28:33
February 20 2007 22:25 GMT
#2
SHIT..... wtf man that's insane news >_< wtf does kespa want to do with that. just leave the stuff to ogn and mbc they were doing perfectly fine =. =

my guess is that those bastard 'director' representatives from each company in kespa just want to make some money and dont care about the scene at all

AJSDFKSDJSFKSJDGKLASJGD

how did kespa 'claim' the broadcasting rights in the first place anyway?
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!
CTStalker
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Canada9720 Posts
February 20 2007 22:28 GMT
#3
On what basis does the KeSPA claim that they're expanding the professionalization of e-Sports? It sounds more like they're just doing what's profitable (not laying blame here, this is the same reason why OGN and MBC refuse to settle the issue by purchasing broadcast rights).

Anyway, bum deal. I hope that they work it out, I always enjoyed the proleague and it's format.
By the way, my name is Funk. I am not of your world
yubee
Profile Blog Joined May 2006
United States3826 Posts
February 20 2007 22:35 GMT
#4
[image loading]
uhjoo
Profile Joined October 2004
Korea (South)1740 Posts
February 20 2007 22:38 GMT
#5
My personal opinion, of course, is that KeSPA is fucking retarded.

A good analogy about this situation is sort of like this:

Two guys, OGN and MBC, start separate lemonade stands. In the beginning, the lemonade is really unusual so no one buys, but as time goes on it catches fire. So then they decide to invite a third guy, KeSPA, to help them coordinate one big profitable lemonade stand. When this stand starts getting really big, KeSPA says, hey, if you want to keep selling lemonade, you have to pay me. OGN and MBC say who the fuck are you, eat me, we made this lemonade stand happen, you hardly did anything. KeSPA then says I'm going to let a third guy, IEG, sell the lemonade from now on, because he paid me.

Something like this.
i want bubbles the warrior monkey back
bine
Profile Blog Joined April 2005
United States2352 Posts
February 20 2007 22:45 GMT
#6
What does kespa plan on doing with the money?
Elsi
Profile Joined October 2002
United Kingdom8173 Posts
February 20 2007 22:51 GMT
#7
thx for the news! ty man!
MyTHicaL
Profile Joined November 2005
France1070 Posts
February 20 2007 22:56 GMT
#8
This is pretty ridiculous >.<;: ... However i doubt that E-sports will just implode... there will be some sort of solution if this happens however it is of course a huge set back :x.
Aepplet
Profile Joined December 2003
Sweden2908 Posts
February 20 2007 22:56 GMT
#9
i'm with the channels on this one
rrenaud
Profile Joined October 2006
United States29 Posts
February 20 2007 23:02 GMT
#10
What does KeSPA do that is actually useful? Why would starting something independent of them be such a problem?
Cpt Obvious
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
Germany3073 Posts
February 20 2007 23:06 GMT
#11
wtf...who the fuck are they to claim the right to ruin Proleague?

OGN and MBC should *really* make their own league to finally settle this problem.
Nobody ever reads signatures of people like me, do they?
Vin{MBL}
Profile Blog Joined September 2006
5185 Posts
February 20 2007 23:09 GMT
#12
Red_Dragon
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
Croatia2862 Posts
February 20 2007 23:13 GMT
#13
If progaming disappears (highly unlikely IMO) that would cause many people to lose their job. And that would be a lot of blood on kespa hands.

I think they will reach some kind of agreement because progaming is so big in Korea. Kespa is so wrong on this one
Climbing walls of an endless circle
uhjoo
Profile Joined October 2004
Korea (South)1740 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-02-20 23:18:08
February 20 2007 23:15 GMT
#14
On February 21 2007 08:02 rrenaud wrote:
What does KeSPA do that is actually useful? Why would starting something independent of them be such a problem?


Well, KeSPA in theory does do a few things:

1) since they are an association of a bunch of big businesses, you're talking about a pretty big network (theoretically) to support the growth of pro-gaming. OGN and MBC, in the big scheme, are two small cable channels with only a limited amount of funds.

2) there does need to be a central organizing body, for example, setting rules, regulations, and standards for progaming, making sure unethical practices aren't taking place, etc.

3) KeSPA has been in charge of getting the sponsors for the individual Proleagues.

It is a distinct possibility that OGN and MBC return back to setting up their own leagues. There are a number of wrinkles: 1) the cost and effort-- would it be worth it? Or would it be simply more profitable for them to tank the whole dirty issue and invest their time and money elsewhere? 2) Would all the proteams actually participate in these leagues? You might imagine the front offices of certain teams (i.e. IEG) refusing to let their teams play. You might have MBC Hero not playing in the OGN league, or some other ridiculous circumstance. It just makes things alot messier. 3) Can teams really play in two separate team leagues? The coordination would be hellish. 4) The prestige of the leagues would be smaller, the scale as a whole would be smaller. You'd have probably smaller scale attendance, less prestige and prize for victory, smaller scale everything (like imagine the finals taking in a tiny theater instead of outdoors in front of a huge crowd) 5) will OGN and MBC really be able to find their own sponsors? Sponsors likely will be scared off to see how unstable the Proleague is-- large investments are made with long-term benefits in mind. You don't make high risk investments without an equally high potential for payoff. So in the end it raises the "price" of putting on a Proleague.
i want bubbles the warrior monkey back
[GiTM]-Ace
Profile Joined September 2002
United States4935 Posts
February 20 2007 23:24 GMT
#15
This is pretty big news. We just all better hope for future num 4) where they just settle it all and it goes back to normal. But what would be wrong with ogn/mbc taking care of managing the league and they just play it on another channel(besides principle)
I may not be the best player right now but I think I can beat any 'best' players. I'll beat all the best players and become the best player. Watch me. - Jju
DrainX
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
Sweden3187 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-02-20 23:26:36
February 20 2007 23:24 GMT
#16
Cant they just pick a new name like GosuLeague and run that instead with the same rules etc? I mean instead of creating a new league each why not create a new one working togather?
bustaBust
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
Canada469 Posts
February 20 2007 23:28 GMT
#17
So what about the OSL Finals? Will they be able to broadcast that in 2 days?? When does the boradcasting stop if no deal is made?
uhjoo
Profile Joined October 2004
Korea (South)1740 Posts
February 20 2007 23:32 GMT
#18
The Starleagues do not involve KeSPA, only the Proleague

Thus, OSL = OGN starleague, MSL = MBC starleague
i want bubbles the warrior monkey back
Beamo
Profile Joined March 2003
France1279 Posts
February 20 2007 23:32 GMT
#19
On February 21 2007 08:24 DrainX wrote:
Cant they just pick a new name like GosuLeague and run that instead with the same rules etc? I mean instead of creating a new league each why not create a new one working togather?


They won't have the sponsors.
Red_Dragon
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
Croatia2862 Posts
February 20 2007 23:33 GMT
#20
On February 21 2007 08:28 bustaBust wrote:
So what about the OSL Finals? Will they be able to broadcast that in 2 days?? When does the boradcasting stop if no deal is made?


I think only proleague is affected with this problem. OSL/MSL starleagues are not in "danger" as I understood.
Climbing walls of an endless circle
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 1h 37m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Creator 98
Nina 33
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 1879
Nal_rA 494
Soma 304
ggaemo 252
Killer 205
PianO 137
Leta 107
JulyZerg 75
Aegong 67
sorry 50
[ Show more ]
Sacsri 46
Backho 44
Free 32
EffOrt 32
soO 28
Sharp 28
GoRush 27
Bale 14
sSak 11
Hm[arnc] 0
Dota 2
XcaliburYe220
BananaSlamJamma178
ODPixel110
League of Legends
JimRising 422
febbydoto7
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K775
olofmeister393
Super Smash Bros
Westballz40
Other Games
summit1g10520
ceh9611
SortOf116
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1044
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Light_VIP 42
• davetesta38
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• iopq 2
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota251
League of Legends
• Stunt1137
• HappyZerGling164
Upcoming Events
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1h 37m
WardiTV European League
7h 37m
PiGosaur Monday
15h 37m
OSC
1d 4h
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
1d 7h
The PondCast
2 days
Online Event
2 days
Korean StarCraft League
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
Online Event
4 days
[ Show More ]
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

BSL 20 Non-Korean Championship
FEL Cracow 2025
Underdog Cup #2

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL 20 Team Wars
CC Div. A S7
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25

Upcoming

BSL 21 Qualifiers
ASL Season 20: Qualifier #1
ASL Season 20: Qualifier #2
ASL Season 20
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
SEL Season 2 Championship
WardiTV Summer 2025
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
HCC Europe
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
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.