Games in ESL Premiership Spring 2023 will be open to community broadcasts, ESL UK announced in a tweet on Friday. In addition to 16 group stage games and five play-off games, which will be covered on stream, casters and organisations are encouraged to apply for permission to stream the remaining 44 group stage matches.
Promod and ESL initially announced that the 44 games would be played off-stream due to technical limitations, but following community backlash and an open letter from the British Counter-Strike Association (BCSA) signed by many member teams, the organisers have agreed that community streams can cover the shortfall. As the BCSA letter notes, this system is also used in other ESL events such as ESL Impact and should ensure that fans can watch all the action in ESL Premiership this season.
This is still a reduction in coverage from previous seasons. Last season all 30 group stage games were covered on a central broadcast, whereas this year only 16 games will be covered along with play-off matches. The group stage format has also changed from single to double round-robin while the timespan of the tournament has been reduced. The 60 group stage games will take place over 8 play days in the first and penultimate week of May, with the play-off fixtures in the first week of June.
ESL Premiership Spring 2023 starts on Monday 1st May and will see teams such as Into the Breach, Endpoint and Viperio battle for a share of £20,000 and a spot in the National Championships Qualifier for ESL Pro League Season 18.
3️⃣ days ‘til #ESLPrem returns!
We’re looking for Watch Party hosts to share the UKCS action with their communities 🔥
Sound good? Join our Discord to apply 👉 https://t.co/Kn3ATYHrPF pic.twitter.com/K7j9Vntzym
— ESL UK (@ESLUK) April 28, 2023
