MLBB M6 World Championship: Regional Leagues Showcase New Trends in Viewership

Last weekend, on October 19 and 20, six additional teams secured spots in the M6 World Championship, the annual Mobile Legends: Bang Bang season finale, through four professional leagues. These leagues highlighted two distinct trends in viewership: some circuits saw a decline in international audiences they once relied on, while others grew by focusing on regional fanbases.

The MPL Cambodia, MPL MENA, MTC Turkiye Championship, and NACT concluded their playoff stages, determining qualifiers for the main event and Wildcard stage of the World Championship. While the circuits maintained their popularity rankings from last season, notable shifts in viewership occurred. One league, in particular, experienced a 50% drop in peak viewership compared to the previous year.

Starting with MPL Cambodia, the most popular of the four leagues that hosted playoffs last weekend, its audience primarily comes from the local Cambodian community, with content in Khmer and some English. However, Season 7 of MPL Cambodia saw a slight dip in peak viewership, down 19% from the last season.

MPL Cambodia Season 7 Viewership Results

The grand final of MPL Cambodia Season 7 attracted 107.5K peak viewers, about 25K fewer than Season 6. Last season’s boost in viewership was partly due to coverage by the MPL Indonesia TikTok account, which drew a significant number of international viewers. Although peak viewership decreased, average viewership increased slightly, reaching 24.9K. This season’s smaller international audience reflects a broader trend for smaller circuits, which struggled with simultaneous finals over one weekend.

In this season, CFU Gaming made headlines by winning their first championship, securing 107.5K peak viewers. Long-time competitor See You Soon, a fan favorite and regular representative at MLBB World Championships, missed out on the M6, leaving Cambodian fans to support a new team.

NACT Fall 2024 Viewership Results

In the Americas, the North American Challenger Tournament (NACT) continued its growth, achieving a peak of 84.6K viewers and setting a new record for average viewership at 6.8K. Unlike MPL Cambodia, NACT’s smaller regional audience remains its strength. Team BloodThirstyKings clinched their third NACT title, gearing up for their second World Championship appearance. Despite slow but steady growth, NACT remains focused on its loyal North American base.

Similar patterns were observed in the two smaller circuits, MPL MENA and MTC Türkiye Championship, which also recorded stable viewership by catering to regional audiences.

MPL MENA Season 6 Viewership Results

MPL MENA experienced a drop in peak viewership, from 43.3K in Season 5 to 21.5K in Season 6. Despite featuring familiar regional teams like Twisted Minds, the league did not reach the heights of the previous season, which benefited from Team Falcons’ involvement. However, average viewership remained consistent, reflecting stable engagement despite peak declines.

Both MPL Cambodia and MPL MENA showcased intense competition leading up to the M6, but scheduling all finals on the same weekend limited their potential for international exposure. Despite this, average viewership remained steady.

MTC Türkiye Championship Season 4 Viewership Results

The MTC Türkiye Championship Season 4 reached a peak of 14.4K viewers, with 234.4K total hours watched. This regional league continues to grow slowly but steadily, with a dedicated Turkish fanbase. Fire Flux Esports won the title, earning a direct slot at the main event, while S2G Esports will enter through the Wildcard stage. Like NACT, the MTC’s viewership remains stable and less affected by disruptions.

M6 World Championship Qualified Teams

Here’s a breakdown of the qualified teams:

All the featured leagues—MPL Cambodia, NACT, MPL MENA, and MTC Türkiye Championship—have delivered solid viewership numbers ahead of the M6 event. While MPL Cambodia and MPL MENA faced challenges with international viewers due to overlapping schedules, circuits with a regional focus, such as NACT and MTC, thrived. The M6 World Championship is set to be a highly anticipated event, with regional support holding strong worldwide.

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