The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) has weathered the storm of format adjustments and a return to weekend slots in the 2024 Spring Split. However, the applause from avid fans is met with a discordant note – the average viewership is once again on a downward trajectory.

Commencing on 20th January, the LCS Spring Split burst into action with a highly anticipated rematch between titans Cloud9 and NRG. Initial figures seemed promising, boasting 191,540 viewers tuning in to witness C9 clinch victory, as reported by Esports Charts. Yet, a subsequent Esports Charts analysis casts a shadow on these week one peaks, attributing them, in part, to the presence of Brazilian streamer Gustavo “Baiano” Gomes.

Baiano, now dual-streaming matches from both his home region, CBLOL, and the LCS, made the shift after the morning conclusion of CBLOL matches. During the transition, Baiano commanded an impressive 63,000 live viewers for the Cloud9 versus 100 Thieves clash. However, only a third of that audience persisted until the end of the game. Consequently, the peak concurrent count received a substantial boost from Baiano's viewership, primarily invested in CBLOL and less engaged with the LCS.

Accounting for this "lag," the inaugural week of 2024 fell short of the previous year's Spring Split in average viewership. This week's 116,160 represents a nine percent decline compared to the same period in Spring 2023. While peaks surpass those of Summer 2023, which was marred by a mid-week schedule and LCSPA walkout delays, the overarching trend for the LCS remains in a slump, aligning with earlier predictions made in November.

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The drop in total viewer hours, though somewhat expected due to the reduction in series per matchday, remains a cause for concern. In contrast to other major regions like the LEC, which either set records or maintain stability, the LCS faces consistent declines.