Chinese video sharing and online-gaming platform Bilibili has agreed a wide-ranging three-year contract with US video games developer and esports event organiser Riot Games.
The deal grants Bilibili a three-year exclusive license for live broadcasting of League of Legends (LoL) esports global events in Chinese, including the League of Legends World Championship, Mid-Season Invitational, and All-Star Event in China. The contract, announced today (Monday), will run up until the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational.
To mark the tenth anniversary of the League of Legends World Championship, Bilibili will join forces with Riot Games to host various online and offline esports events.
Today’s announcement comes after it was reported in December that Bilibili had sealed a three-year deal for exclusive broadcast rights to the League of Legends World Championship.
Carly Lee, vice-chairwoman of the board and chief operating officer of Bilibili, said: “Throughout the past decade, we have witnessed esports becoming mainstream and one of the most popular sports among China’s young generation. As an internet company headquartered in Shanghai, we also look forward to helping the city strengthen its leading position in the global esports industry.”
John Needham, global head of esports at Riot Games, added: “Our partnership with Bilibili opens us to new audiences through their immersive live-broadcasting experience. Moving into the next decade of LoL Esports, this strategic partnership further unlocks our potential to bring fresh content and chapters to the world’s top professional players.”