ESL FACEIT Group President of Esports Sebastian Weishaar has identified broadcast monetization as the primary economic hurdle for the competitive gaming industry. In an interview with French publication e.sport.fr during IEM Cologne 2026, Weishaar detailed the current financial structure of the sector and pointed toward premium subscription models as a necessary step for industry sustainability.
The media rights deficit
While Weishaar expressed optimism regarding the structural health of tournament organizers following recent market corrections, he highlighted the traditional esports broadcasting model as a fundamental issue. Traditional sports rely heavily on media rights. Competitive Counter-Strike and other major titles remain entirely dependent on free platforms.
In many traditional sports, between two-thirds and 75 percent of revenues come from media rights,” Weishaar told e.sport.fr. “In our world, everything is free on Twitch and YouTube, and the revenue generated is almost nonexistent.
Addressing the core issue, he delivered a stark assessment of the current model. “I do not think that esports can be sustainably profitable and prosperous in the long term if this question is not resolved in one way or another.”
Developing premium tier offerings
Despite the financial pressure surrounding esports broadcasting, Weishaar firmly dismissed the possibility of an immediate shift to a strict pay-per-view model. The strategy for EFG moving forward relies on the gradual introduction of premium subscription tiers rather than an outright restriction of access.
Tournament organizers are currently evaluating methods to secure financial stability without alienating the existing viewer base accustomed to free content.
We will never put everything behind a paywall overnight,” Weishaar stated. “That would not work. The only solution is to create premium offers attractive enough for fans to want to pay a few euros a month.
Moving past the economic downturn
The push for new revenue streams follows a period defined by market corrections and organizational closures across the industry. Weishaar views the current ecosystem as significantly healthier than in previous years. The mentality of unchecked growth has been replaced by a focus on sustainable business operations.
Everyone loves to talk about the esports winter,” Weishaar said. “Personally, I feel that we have passed it. We have probably returned to the spring of esports and we are getting closer to summer.
Looking ahead, the EFG executive anticipates that younger generations will maintain their connection to gaming as they age, expanding the total addressable market for esports. This demographic shift is expected to attract more sponsors and create new economic opportunities for the industry.
