LCS adds Friday Night League, hoping to boost viewership numbers

May 22, 2020

Reading time: 2 min

Big changes are in store as the LCS has released the schedule for the 2020 LCS Summer Split, set to start on June 12.

The news is particularly big because the LCS is making major changes to its schedule. The league has decided to move two LCS matches from Mondays to Fridays for new Friday Night League broadcasts. Starting on June 12, fans can enjoy two LCS matches on Fridays at 6 PM PST, 8 PM CST.

“We believe having two high-stakes games on Fridays will better set the stage and the tone for the weekend. In addition, we believe a Friday lineup will better satisfy the needs of fans across multiple time zones,” the LCS wrote in the announcement.

The LCS Academy League will now be played on Thursdays with five games on broadcast, with Academy Rush taking place on Fridays. All matches will be played online for the foreseeable future.

The change in the schedule will create a cohesive experience for fans that might start their days by watching the LEC on Fridays. The new schedule benefits fans from different regions that wish to engage with the LCS. While this is a step in the right direction, one can’t help but wonder if it’s enough to improve viewership.

LCS production needs serious improvement for better viewer counts

The LCS introduced Monday Night League as a space where the league would try new content. It was supposed to be an innovative broadcast and a fresh take. The LCS is yet to deliver on that promise.

In direct comparison with the LEC, the LCS has a mediocre production that adds little to the scene. Even the broadcast quality is subpar, with an outdated logo and look. Fans keep asking for a change and for more engaging content. Split after split, the LCS lets them down. The problems with the LCS production are reflecting on the league’s viewer stats.

According to Esports Charts, the LEC has become the primary viewing destination for the western audience. The LEC registered over 800,000 peak concurrent viewers, while the LCS peaked a little over 380,000. The top ten most popular teams in the season thus far featured only one LCS organization, Team SoloMid, who were in tenth place.