Before the League of Legends community fully shifts its attention to the season-ending Worlds 2024 event, it’s worth reviewing the smaller EMEA circuits. The second-tier competitions in 2024 saw shifts in viewership, with many leagues experiencing a notable decline compared to the previous year. However, some circuits managed to increase their viewership, both at the top and bottom of the rankings.
Overall
Overall, the trend in 2024 showed a decrease in viewership for these circuits. In the previous two years, EMEA’s competitions enjoyed strong numbers, but this growth has slowed as things have stabilized. Top-performing circuits like the LFL (France) and Superliga (Spain) set records in recent years with the help of prominent community casters. However, both leagues experienced a dip in watch time in 2024 compared to last year.
Despite the decrease, the LFL and Superliga remain the top circuits in the region in terms of total watch time, although their Hours Watched have declined. The Prime League (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), on the other hand, was the largest circuit to show positive growth in viewership this year, making it the fastest-growing league in all of EMEA. Other leagues, such as the GLL (Greece and Cyprus), EBL (Balkans), and Elite Series (Benelux), also saw an increase in watch time.
The Prime League is now poised to surpass the Superliga, though the latter still holds a strong position compared to other circuits. The Superliga’s past success was largely driven by record-breaking viewership from Ibai, a popular Spanish caster and internet personality, but this year, viewership dropped significantly across both official and Ibai’s personal broadcasts. This decline is more about waning excitement for the Superliga rather than the departure of key casters.
In terms of Peak Viewers, the LFL actually set a new record in 2024, surpassing its 2023 numbers. While fans weren’t as consistently engaged throughout the season, the excitement during the playoffs reached new heights. Community casters Kamet0 and Gotaga played a major role, but official broadcasts also drew tens of thousands of viewers.
Prime League
The Prime League followed closely behind the LFL in peak viewership growth, thanks in part to its smaller but impactful community casters like HandofBlood. While not as influential as figures like Ibai or Kamet0, these DACH region casters have still helped the Prime League grow steadily, which could indicate a more sustainable rise in the years to come.
Smaller Circuits
Among the smaller circuits, those that saw peak viewership growth, such as the GLL, EBL, and Elite Series, were the same ones that achieved minor watch time increases. These events benefited from community casters, with around a quarter of their peak viewership coming from co-streams.
In summary, while viewership across the EMEA minor circuits trended downward in 2024, many are stabilizing after a strong couple of years. Leagues like the LFL and Prime League still show potential for growth in the future.
