Changes to GSL Streaming Policy Frustrate Fans
For fans of StarCraft 2, the Korean GSL tournament is the most exciting regional competition to watch. It has been the premier tournament since the early years of the game and has become an integral part of the Blizzard-run global tournament series called WCS.
However, the recent change in streaming policy by GSL, Gom eXP (formerly GomTV), has left some fans frustrated. As the new season starts, many fans tuned in to watch the first and second weeks of play only to be met with low-quality streams. Non-subscribers on Twitch could only watch the games in “Low” quality, which is equivalent to 240p. This is a significant drop from the “Medium” quality (360p) that GSL offered last year. As a result, crucial details such as player resources and army sizes are virtually impossible to discern from the stream. Fans quickly took to forums like TeamLiquid and Reddit to voice their complaints about the sudden decline in streaming quality.
Some argued that Gom eXP has the right to charge for better picture quality, but others pointed out that Blizzard’s new broadcasting standard expects a minimum of 480p quality. Even community figures voiced their opinions on the matter.
The streaming policy of GSL stands in contrast to other esports, such as Dota 2 and League of Legends, which often offer HD quality broadcasts for free and provide open access to video replays. Gom eXP, on the other hand, has completely blocked access to non-subscribers.
While esports viewership is rapidly increasing, policies that restrict casual fans from accessing content seem like a step backward. While this change may lead some fans to finally subscribe to GSL, it may also drive others away from the tournament altogether.