Can eSports Players Hear the Commentators?

Can eSports Players Hear the Commentators?

No. At major esports events, players usually can’t hear the commentators. Tournament organizers give them headsets that play white noise over the outside world, while earbuds underneath carry game audio and team chat. The setup isn’t perfect, though, and players have complained about hearing casters or the crowd at some events. Traditional athletes in the NFL, NBA and soccer generally can’t hear TV commentators either, because commentary goes to the broadcast, not the arena speakers.

Key Takeaways

  • Esports players wear two layers of audio: earbuds for game sound and team chat, and outer headphones that play white noise to block the casters and crowd.
  • The goal is competitive integrity: hearing casters could reveal enemy positions or plans.
  • The system sometimes fails. At Valorant Masters Berlin in 2021, Riot moved the casters farther away after players complained about the audio setup.
  • In the NFL, NBA and soccer, TV commentary is not played over stadium speakers, so players on the field generally don’t hear it.
  • The in-arena PA announcer is different. Players and fans can hear that voice.

Can Players Hear the Commentators? Sport by Sport

SportCan players hear TV commentators?Why
Esports (on stage)Usually notWhite-noise headphones over earbuds
Esports (online)Not directlyPlayers are at home; they are not allowed to watch the broadcast
NFLNoBooths sit high in the press box; commentary is not played in the stadium
NBAGenerally noCommentary goes to TV, not arena speakers, and arenas are loud
SoccerNoCommentary positions are in the stands, and the audio goes to the broadcast

How Esports Players Block Out the Casters

At big LAN events, players sit on stage just a few feet from the crowd, and sometimes close to the casting desk. If they could hear the casters, they might learn where enemies are or what the other team is planning. That would be a serious problem for fair play.

Organizers solve this with a two-layer setup. Players wear earbuds that carry the game audio and their team’s voice chat. Over those, they wear large tournament-provided headphones that play white noise to drown out the crowd and the casters.

Players usually have to use the headphones the organizer provides. That keeps the setup the same for everyone on stage.

When the System Fails

The white-noise setup works most of the time, but not always.

At Valorant Masters Berlin in 2021, players complained about the audio. The white noise was so loud that it became a problem of its own, and players could still pick up outside sound. Riot delayed a match between Sentinels and G2 Esports to move the casters farther from the players, which let them turn the white noise down.

Similar complaints have come up at other events. At DreamHack Austin in 2017, players said the required headphones did not block enough outside noise.

The clearest example came at Dota 2’s The International 2022 (TI11). For the first time, Valve dropped its soundproof booths in favor of an open stage. After a match, a Gaimin Gladiators player said in an interview that his team could hear the casters and adjusted their play. Fnatic, the team they beat, filed a protest. Valve brought the soundproof booths back for The International 2023, and has said that by TI5 each of its booths cost more than $200,000 to build.

What About the Crowd?

Even when players can’t hear the casters, a loud crowd can leak through. A sudden roar can hint that something big is happening in the game, which is why organizers try to block crowd noise too, not just the commentary.

What About Online Tournaments?

In online matches, players compete from home or a team facility, so the casters aren’t in the same room at all. The risk is different: a player could watch the live broadcast to spy on the other team. Tournament rules ban this, and broadcasts often run on a short delay to make it useless.

If you want to know who decides what viewers see during a match, read what an esports observer does.

Can NFL Players Hear the Commentators?

No. TV and radio announcers call NFL games from broadcast booths high up in the press box, far from the field. Their commentary goes out to viewers and listeners, not to the stadium’s speakers.

On the field, players hear the crowd, the referees, each other and the stadium PA announcer. The only voice coming through a player’s helmet is from his own coaching staff, through the helmet radio, not from the TV booth.

Can NBA Players Hear the Commentators?

Generally, no. Many NBA broadcast crews sit at courtside tables, close to the action. But their commentary is sent to the TV or radio broadcast, not played through the arena’s speakers.

With music, the crowd and the PA announcer filling the arena, players focused on the game rarely notice the broadcast crew at all.

Can Soccer Players Hear the Commentators?

No. Soccer commentators work from commentary positions in the stands, and their audio goes to TV and streaming viewers. Even fans in the stadium usually can’t hear the broadcast commentary unless they listen on a radio or an app. Some clubs have even tested in-stadium commentary streams for fans’ phones, which shows it isn’t normally audible inside the ground.

Commentators vs. the PA Announcer

It’s easy to mix these up:

  • TV and radio commentators describe and analyze the game for people watching or listening at home.
  • The public address (PA) announcer speaks to everyone inside the stadium or arena through its speakers, announcing players, scores and stoppages.

So if a player says they “heard the announcer,” they almost always mean the PA announcer, not the broadcast crew.

Why It Matters

For esports, keeping commentary away from players protects competitive integrity. A caster saying “they’re setting up on the left side” could decide a round. That’s one reason top events like the ones in our guide to the biggest esports tournaments invest heavily in player audio. For more on how competitive gaming compares with traditional sports, see the advantages and disadvantages of esports.

Can eSports Players Hear the Commentators?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do esports players wear two headsets?

The earbuds underneath carry game sound and team voice chat. The large headphones on top play white noise to block out the crowd and the casters. Organizers usually provide the outer headphones, so every player on stage has the same setup.

Can esports players hear the crowd?

They aren’t supposed to, but loud cheering can sometimes leak through, especially on open stages without booths. That’s why organizers try to block crowd noise as well as the casters, since a sudden roar could hint at what’s happening in the game.

Can NFL players hear the TV announcers?

No. NFL broadcast teams call games from booths high in the press box, and their commentary goes to TV and radio audiences, not the stadium speakers. Players hear the crowd, referees, teammates, the PA announcer and, through a helmet radio, their coaches.

Can NBA players hear the commentators?

Generally no. Broadcast crews often sit courtside, but their commentary goes to the TV or radio feed, not the arena’s speakers. In a loud arena with music, fans and the PA announcer, players almost never hear the broadcast crew.

Can fans in the stadium hear the commentators?

Usually not. Broadcast commentary goes to people watching or listening remotely. Fans in the stadium hear the PA announcer instead. To hear the TV or radio call, they need a radio, an app or a service the venue provides.

Sources

Asmran Ahmad
Asmran Ahmad

Asmran Ahmad is the founder of Foodyei.com. He has played a wide range of sports and closely follows both traditional sports and competitive gaming. He has been writing blogs since 2020 and has covered sports and esports on Foodyei since 2023, focusing on clear, fact-checked guides for fans of every level. He also works as a freelance blog writer.

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