On January 8, the first closed qualifiers for IEM Katowice 2023 CS: GO for North America took place. Despite the participation of popular teams, ESL showed only a few meetings and did not allow other streamers to cover the rest. A day later, company representatives promised to review the broadcasting regulations and apologized to the fans.
ESL broadcast only two matches Chaos – against FURIA Esports and Complexity gaming. All other meetings, including the debut game of the new roster Benjamin BlameF Bremer and the brazilian derby between MIBR and INTZ eSportsgone outside the stream.
Because of this, many fans criticized the studio on social networks. To the discussion also joined analyst Chad SPUNJ Burchil:
“ESL, it’s just humiliating that in 2023 you do not allow others to show matches that you yourself cannot cover. I understand the desire to control all the broadcasts of my tournaments, but when you are not even trying to show people the meetings that they want to see …
What the hell are you thinking? There are those who really want to show these matches for you. I’m sure they would use your overlays and banner ads if they needed to. ”
A day later, the head of Intel Extreme Masters Michael Carmac Blicharz published an official ESL statement on this situation. He promised that the company will revise the policy of working with interested streamers so that viewers can watch all the matches of the following tournaments.
“We did the wrong thing with the qualifiers. Our team is already reviewing third-party streamer policies. If the match is not covered in high-quality English translation and we forbid anyone else to show it – this is not normal. A show loses all meaning if it has no audience. This should not happen at ESL Pro Tours.
In the future, we will allow certain streamers to broadcast qualifying matches that are not covered on official channels if they agree to our terms and conditions. ”
Carmac noted that ESL will not allow anyone to show matches of its tournaments – the number of third-party streamers will still be limited. At the end of the appeal, he apologized to the fans who missed the matches they were interested in.
Closed qualifiers at the IEM Katowice 2023 for North America take place from January 8 to 10. Eight teams play one slot in the main part of the tournament. Qualifications will also be held in Europe, Asia and Oceania.
IEM Katowice 2023 will be held from February 25 to March 1 in Poland. 16 teams will perform at the championship. The prize fund of the competition will be $ 500 thousand.
