OGN (TV channel)
OGN (formely known as Ongamenet) is a South Korean cable television channel that specializes in broadcasting video game-related content and esports matches, particularly StarCraft, Starcraft 2, League of Legends. OnGameNet runs a high level professional tournaments such as the Ongamenet Starleague (OSL), Proleague, and League of Legends Champions Korea. It was previously a subsidiary of On-Media, the parent company of several other cable channels. After a corporate merger in 2010, it is now owned by CJ E&M.
Effects on E-Sports
Originally starting out as a television program to follow the raising popularity of StarCraft in Korea, the successful growth of broadcast-gaming in Korea allowed the Starleague in 2000 to become its own dedicated channel on OnGameNet. Starting out with a small prize sum and very few followers, Starleague grew tremendously in its twelve-year history. It has catapulted electronic gaming into a major competitive sport in Korea, with more viewers than other professional sports. These Starleague events regularly attract upwards of 50,000 fans. The league also brought attention to one of the most iconic players of Starcraft, Lim Yo Hwan (Boxer)
. With the growth of electronic sports, international teams began to come to Korea in order to participate in these events and have a chance at stardom while also landing a professional contract with major teams such as SK Telecom T1 and KT Rolster. South Korea is well known for its popularization of electronic sports.
