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Naver’s web broadcasting platform Chzzk, which made a daring guess on League of Legends (LoL) broadcasting rights, seems to have achieved outcomes past expectations.
The expansion charge of peak concurrent viewers approached triple digits, and viewing demand for official broadcasts was clearly confirmed.
Having absorbed the LoL fandom past expectations, this yr’s begin seems to be promising. Consideration is targeted on whether or not Chzzk will obtain even higher outcomes by way of the 2026 Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics beginning subsequent month, adopted by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Affiliation Soccer (FIFA) World Cup (June), and Esports World Cup (EWC, July).
Based on Naver’s inner calculations, Chzzk recorded a 94% surge in peak concurrent viewers in the course of the opening week of the home LoL match, 2026 LoL Champions Korea Cup (LCK Cup), in comparison with the earlier week.
As YouTube viewers flocked to Chzzk, the variety of official broadcast viewers additionally elevated considerably. Based on the business, Chzzk’s official broadcasting market share exceeded 70%. This represents greater than double the market share in comparison with competitor platform Soop.
The broadcasting information banners that seem throughout tournaments are analyzed to have naturally drawn viewers to Chzzk. When viewing spotlight movies on the LCK YouTube channel, the phrase “LCK broadcasting on Chzzk” is repeatedly displayed.
Chzzk’s progress pattern was additionally confirmed by way of exterior knowledge.
Based on MobileIndex, Chzzk’s weekly energetic customers (WAU) is estimated at roughly 2.06 million for the match opening week of the third week of January (12-18). Following 1.89 million within the first week and 1.92 million within the second week, it’s drawing a steep upward curve.
Throughout the identical interval, Soop additionally confirmed progress with 1.46 million (first week), 1.48 million (second week), and 1.54 million (third week), however Chzzk is interpreted to have widened the hole with competitor Soop as broadcasts reminiscent of Chzzk Cup and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations created synergy.
Whereas there have been forecasts that match viewership may decline as YouTube withdrew from home LCK broadcasting beginning this yr, evaluation means that viewer numbers just like earlier years are being recorded and Chzzk has benefited. Chzzk may also count on a lock-in impact the place LCK viewers watch streamer broadcasts throughout the platform.
As a latecomer, there have been preliminary issues that Chzzk would possibly expertise poor fandom influx in comparison with Soop, which had already constructed a stable LoL ecosystem. Nonetheless, the popularity constructed by way of unique EWC broadcasting final yr led to those outcomes, fully dispelling these issues.
For Chzzk, this LCK broadcasting is just the start. Along with the Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, North America World Cup, and EWC, it’s going to additionally broadcast the 2026 Worlds in October-November this yr. As it’s going to consecutively broadcast tournaments that appeal to nationwide consideration past simply esports, vital progress is predicted.
An business official mentioned, “Chzzk, which has been step by step increasing the esports ecosystem just lately, seems to be main by way of viewing market share within the early phases of the LCK Cup match,” including, “As Chzzk broadcasts the Winter Olympics, World Cup, EWC and different occasions this yr, it’s anticipated to additional solidify its place and competitiveness as a complete streaming platform.”
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