Exclusive: CS:GO: Talent Wars

BLAST and ESL have decidedly different styles of broadcast. After the major in Paris it could be that even the faces on those broadcasts become different too.

Image courtesy of ESL

Hiring policies implemented by BLAST at the last CS:GO Major combined with new contracts issued by ESL could see changes to the way freelance broadcast talent operates on the event circuit. While it’s evident just from watching the broadcasts themselves both companies have their own preferences and favourites, talent exclusivity has been something rarely explored in esports. Generally this is because it serves everyone’s purposes – tournament operators can pay less and don’t have to worry about those they hire on a temporary basis being a representative of their company should they get involved in anything untoward. For freelancers it enables them to work for multiple sources, sometimes across multiple games, supplementing their income and growing their brand on several fronts. However that might be set to change for a handful of household names in the CS:GO scene as ESL look to capitalise on BLAST’s hiring practices from the last major.

One of the criticisms that came BLAST’s way for the Paris major when they were selecting the talent pool for the broadcast was that they had overlooked or underused members of talent typically associated with ESL’s broadcasts. Of course, not a problem for their regular events, but a major is not only a Valve event but it is also widely regarded by the community as a celebration of the game and as such they expect the popular talent to be there regardless of business affiliations.

In regards to the hiring for Paris this was not the case. Multiple sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that BLAST had gone out of their way to use as few of the ESL regulars as possible, with one saying they’d been told that BLAST “didn’t want to promote ESL” during their marquee event. This extended to rejecting interest from people in the host and interviewer role but also led to some politicking when it came to the use of commentators.

“BLAST openly said they wanted to split up the ESL duos and told them that would be the way they got to work the show” one source familiar with the negotiations explained. “They were even going to drop one half of a duo entirely and put an analyst in as the co-caster for them for the first time working together at a major. Obviously people pushed back on this but it was clear BLAST regulars were going to get their roles and ESL regulars were going to be fucked with.”

Another source confirmed this and specified that it even applied to the duo that many widely regard as the most popular, Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill and Alex “Machine” Richardson but the tournament operator backed down fearing a backlash from the community that would overshadow the event. The other popular ESL duo, Harry "JustHarry" Russell and Hugo Byron were in attendance and paired together but were not used for any of the stadium matches nor used on the last day of the competition before it moved into the Accor Arena.

ESL themselves issued new contracts for talent during the period BLAST were hiring for the major that include a number of changes. For the most part these changes seem to be more about creating clearer language around ESL’s expectations for on air talent they work with. For example it now has a specific clause that states that talent hired for their event can not “advertise any products, brands or companies without ESL’s prior written consent” while they work an event.            

5. EXCLUSIVITY, OPTION

5.1. If and to the extent explicitly stated in the Booking-Request, Contractor is not entitled to provide similar services to any third party in the same or similar business sector as ESL during a certain time period (Option). Further details shall be stipulated in the Booking-Request.

5.2. If and to the extent stated in the Booking-Request, ESL shall be exclusively entitled (but not obliged) to book Contractor's Services after a certain Job again for a similar follow-up Job (e.g. same Event in the following year) under the same conditions of the respective foregoing Booking (Exclusivity). Further details shall be stipulated in the Booking-Request.

In regards to this clause our sources stated that discussions had occurred about the prospect of talent agreeing to sign up front for multiple events on the understanding that they would not be able to work for any other company ESL considered a business rival during that time. However, in exchange for that exclusivity ESL are willing to raise the fees in order to cover the loss of earnings. Given that there is a number of people who appear both on BLAST and ESL events and that BLAST represent the smaller portion of the calendar, many of the talent could be left with a difficult decision about whether or not they wish to continue working for BLAST. For those who feel they were snubbed for an event that was dubbed “CS:GO’s Last Major” the choice might not be so difficult.

ESL, emboldened by their new Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund spending power, have made a number of moves to position themselves as the number one esports service provider in the industry. This has included a huge overhaul of their Dota 2 circuit providing huge prizepools and events in Riyadh, a partnership with the Gamers8 festival and their parent company acquiring two events companies, one in the US and one in China.