Huya Signs Five-Year Media Rights Deal with China’s League of Legends Operator TJ Sports
Huya, the livestreaming platform giant, has secured a five-year media rights agreement with TJ Sports, the operator of China’s League of Legends (LoL). As reported by The Esports Observer, Huya will be the exclusive broadcaster and distributor of the LPL, LDL, and LPL All-Star Event in China. The deal, valued at $310 million, will be in effect from 2021 to 2025, with the right to LPL video-on-demand (VODs) lasting for three years.
Expanding Content Creation and Broadcast Rights
This deal allows Huya to create various video content for the league, including promotional materials, written pieces, replays, highlights, and news commentaries. This move is significant as the popularity of the League of Legends esports scene grows with the success of the LPL’s star teams.
Earlier this year, Huya became the exclusive distribution partner for the LCS and LEC, and also holds the exclusive broadcast rights to the LCK until 2022. With this agreement, Huya becomes the sole platform in China to feature all four major regions of League of Legends.
World Championship Exclusivity and Upcoming Tournament
While Huya holds the rights to many major League of Legends events, it does not have exclusive rights to the World Championship. Bilibili, a popular media-sharing site in China, secured exclusive broadcast rights for the tournament in late 2019 for $113 million.
As we look ahead, the upcoming 2021 Mid-Season Invitational tournament will commence next week on Thursday, May 6.
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Huya, China, League of Legends, TJ Sports, media rights deal, LPL, LDL, LPL All-Star Event, esports, content creation, broadcast rights, World Championship, Mid-Season Invitational.