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Chinese live streaming platform Huya (NYSE: HUYA) revealed it has signed a three year exclusive deal with American video game developer Riot Games. The deal will give Huya exclusive broadcasting rights for all League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) matches in China through 2022. In addition, Huya will also represent the LCK in China for partnerships and sponsorship sales negotiations.
Three year deal for LCK in China
Vice President of HUYA Gao Hongliang stated that Huya would arrange streamers and influencers to create content around the LCK league as part of the partnership. The company would also create official programs to showcase the LCK in China. In addition, Huya would be improving broadcasting technology to increase live streaming quality and enhance the viewing experience of its users.
The live streaming platform currently owns exclusive streaming rights in China to China’s Tencent League of Legends Pro League (LPL), the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), North America’s League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), and Taiwan-based League of Legends Master Series (LMS).
It was also previously the exclusive third-party streaming partner for the LCK in China during 2018, but Riot Games took over broadcasting rights from South Korean cable channel OGN and sports programming company Spotv for 2019.
Huya’s streaming partnerships
Huya also has streaming partnerships with North American esports organization Team Liquid, Korean organization Team Griffin, along with a joint venture with Modern Times Group’s esports organizer and production company ESL. It listed with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in May with $180 million raised at a $2.4 billion valuation.
In the company’s Q2 2019 financial report, Huya saw net income attributable to shareholders increase to RMB 0.73 per share ($0.11 USD) from RMB 0.37 per share ($0.056 USD) a year earlier. The live streaming platform had 143.9 million average monthly active users, 55.9 million average mobile monthly active users, and 4.9 million total paying users. This was an increase of 57%, 31%, and 47% respectively, compared to the same period last year.
