TL;DR
- Ovilee May departs LCS broadcast team but continues with publishing content creation
- Second major talent loss following Jatt’s move to Team Liquid coaching position
- LEC outperforms LCS significantly in hype content production and engagement
- Community feedback shows strong preference for European league’s production quality
- LCS faces critical decisions about talent acquisition and content strategy
The North American League Championship Series faces another significant setback as it loses a crucial broadcast personality.
Broadcast host and interviewer Ovilee May announced she won’t be returning for the 2020 LCS Summer split broadcast team. Represented by United Talent Agency, May made the revelation through her personal YouTube platform.
While May didn’t specify the precise reasons for her departure from the on-air team, she confirmed ongoing collaboration with the LCS publishing division. The former host indicated she’ll be developing independent content focused on the LCS ecosystem.
“Transitioning away from the broadcast allows me to expand my creative output within the LCS community. I’ll shift from conducting three weekly interviews to broader community engagement through original content, team collaborations, live streaming, and co-streaming opportunities,” Ovilee explained.
The LCS keeps losing talent
May represents the second high-profile broadcast departure preceding the summer season. Earlier in May, veteran caster Joshua “Jatt” Leesman transitioned to Team Liquid as their head coach. Jatt stands among the most recognizable figures in North American League of Legends and maintains strong fan appreciation. The LCS organization must decide whether to recruit fresh talent or operate with diminished broadcast resources.
Can the LCS broadcast framework withstand continued talent depletion?
LCS production is staying behind
The contrast between LCS and LEC production approaches becomes increasingly apparent. With the split commencing in less than a week, the European league dominates the pre-season excitement competition. LEC generated four promotional videos compared to LCS’s single production. Each European video showcases professional competitors alongside broadcast team members.
Meanwhile, LCS delivered one animated video containing several hidden references before concluding their efforts.
Audience feedback clearly indicates preference for LEC content. Both leagues released videos on June 8th, separated by two-hour intervals. On Twitter, twelve hours post-publication, the LEC video accumulated over 300 comments and exceeded 17,000 likes. The LCS counterpart received merely 89 comments and approximately 2,000 likes. YouTube metrics showed LEC’s video attracting 60,000 additional viewers compared to LCS’s offering.
The competitive esports community expresses dissatisfaction with LCS’s limited investment in promotional content. Unless the North American league addresses these production deficiencies, viewership decline appears inevitable. Historical data suggests that broadcast talent retention directly correlates with production quality and audience engagement. Organizations facing similar challenges typically implement talent development programs and increased production budgets to maintain competitive positioning.
Action Checklist
- Audit current talent retention strategies and compensation structures
- Develop comprehensive hype content calendar with measurable engagement targets
- Implement cross-platform content performance tracking system
- Establish talent development pipeline for identifying and nurturing new broadcast personalities
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » LCS broadcast loses Ovilee ahead of 2020 LCS Summer Split Analyzing the LCS talent exodus and production challenges during the 2020 Summer Split