2020 LCS broadcasts to be offered as in-flight entertainment

LCS fans can watch matches in their home theater, on their phones, and soon they’ll be able to watch while soaring through the sky.

Riot Games has announced a partnership with in-flight entertainment company Panasonic Avionics. This agreement will have Panasonic offer plane passengers the opportunity to access LCS and Academy games in a near-live format.

“Coming soon, aircraft equipped with Panasonic’s in-flight entertainment systems will have access to LCS and Academy games as part of their expanding premium content offering,” Riot Games said.

Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic Avionics David Bartlett is enthusiastic about the partnership. Bartlett says that airlines that carry this entertainment option will be able to stand out amongst competitors and will garner more revenue due to the increasing popularity of esports. 

“Esports brings significant value to an airline by enhancing the passenger experience with engaging content that has garnered one of entertainment’s fastest-growing audiences,” Bartlett said.

The deal between Panasonic and Riot Games is one in a growing collection. 

Several big partnerships were announced prior to the kickoff of the 2019 League of Legends World Championship. These partners include energy drink company Red Bull, smartphone provider OPPO, and financial services company Mastercard. Additionally, Mastercard is funding a documentary series revolving around the League of Legends community titled “Together Start Something Priceless.”

The partnership between Riot Games and Panasonic Avionics is the first of its kind. It represents the growth of not only League of Legends but esports as an industry. More and more sponsors are viewing esports as a viable business partner and less as a trend. The 2018 League of Legends World Championship grand finals had more than 100 million unique viewers during its broadcast. This year’s finals airs on November 10.

Riot Games hasn’t announced which airlines will feature this new service but encouraged fans to stay tuned for more information.