MOONTON to seek team owners' views on proposed changes
KUALA LUMPUR: MOONTON Games, the developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and organiser of MLBB Malaysia Professional League (MPL MY), will soon engage with team owners regarding plans to transition the league into a franchise model.
Two weeks ago, MOONTON revealed that MPL MY could soon adopt the franchising system as part of its long-term growth strategy.
MPL MY has been operating under a promotion and relegation format, unlike its regional counterparts — Indonesia which adopted the franchising model in 2019, and the Philippines in 2021.
Under a franchising format, the league shares a portion of revenue from sponsorships, ticket sales, broadcast rights, and the sale of in-game items with participating teams.
At present, MPL MY teams generate their own revenue streams through merchandise sales, sponsorships, and prize winnings.
MOONTON's Malaysia Esports Lead, Fikri Rizal Mahruddin, said: "Transitioning to a franchised league is not a decision we take lightly. However, considering the growth and impact of eSports in Malaysia, we believe it is a necessary step.
"We will look to our sister leagues in Indonesia and the Philippines for reference, because developing a franchise league is no small feat. Whatever decision we make for MPL MY must ultimately benefit Malaysians.
"We are also studying traditional sports leagues such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), which have long operated under a franchise model.
"If and when franchising is implemented, MPL MY would be the first franchise league in Malaysia. It could serve as a blueprint or case study for traditional sports leagues to examine and assess whether this model suits the Malaysian sporting landscape.
Fikri added that MOONTON plans to engage the broader community — including fans, streamers and government stakeholders — to gather input on the proposed move.
Timesport previously reported that team owners were generally supportive of the franchising concept but were awaiting greater clarity — particularly on the proposed franchise league's financial structure — as this would significantly influence their decision to compete in it.
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