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League of Legends fans in South Korea are about to see history made. For the first time ever, the LCK Grand Finals will be broadcast live on national terrestrial TV, with MBC set to air the showdown on Sunday, 28 September, straight from the Inspire Arena in Incheon.

If you’re wondering how big of a deal this is, here’s some context, while the LCK has been a global leader in LoL esports for years, its matches have never made it to a national TV network in Korea. The only exception was back in 2018 during the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, when LoL demo matches got some airtime.

A Prime-Time Slot for Esports

MBC isn’t just slotting this in wherever they could find space, either. Coverage kicks off at 2 pm KST, a time usually reserved for heavy-hitter sports like KBO baseball. It’s a clear sign of how far esports has come in Korea, with LoL now getting the same treatment as traditional sports.

The LCK has said it’s been chasing national TV coverage for years, wanting to reach new fans and strengthen its presence as a legitimate sporting competition. MBC, for its part, is framing this as a chance to showcase the LCK’s appeal across generations and cultures.

Big Stakes, Bigger Stage

The Inspire Arena can pack in around 14,000 fans, and it’s already familiar turf for T1. the team played here during their Home Ground event in July. This time, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The winners of the LCK Grand Finals won’t just lift the trophy; they’ll also lock in the number-one seed for the League of Legends World Championship later this year in China.

If we end up with another Gen.G vs T1 grand final, which already accounts for four of the five most-watched LCK series this year, we could be looking at a record-breaking viewership both online and on TV.

More Than Just a Match

This broadcast is part of a growing partnership between the LCK and MBC, with talks already in place about producing extra content like a pre-season documentary. For fans, that means not only a front-row seat to one of the most exciting esports events of the year, but also the start of something bigger for LoL coverage in Korea.

For a league that’s already given us four straight World Championship winners and continues to be home to the game’s biggest icon, Faker, this TV debut feels like another step in solidifying the LCK as the crown jewel of competitive League of Legends.

kenzi on X: "Rumor) LCK Finals scene is inspire arena in Incheon... It's September #LoL #LCK .@LCK https://t.co/TMcgOmnPLF" / X

Image Credit: LCK