EMERALDIf you don't mind me asking, what's the reason behind "Casting the same match as RGL.gg" being against the rules? Looking at the article where the rule was announced, the only thing said was "[1010.2.5] - Casting the same match as RGL.gg is a new rule that will go into effect starting in our autumn seasons". No reason is provided in the rules either, with the only text being "Only casting organizations can broadcast into the STV and cover the same match as RGLgg". I feel like one of the problems people have in this thread is why such a rule exists.
Also, sorry if this was already explained by an admin somewhere and I missed it/I got any info wrong. Tried looking around but couldn't find anything.
My understanding is that most STVs have limited slots. Generally the ones available for CSGO Majors and other high traffic availabilities (I believe all ESEA servers were STV/GOTV relays, hence that weird issue where the STV was broken in later seasons, but thats a longer story) are STV relays. Relays can support a much higher number of people in it without causing lag to the GOTV/STV. They dont tend to have a capacity limit or if they do it is very high. I'm not sure how setting up a relay works but it's more effort server side to set up. STVs themselves can have incredibly low numbers, I remember we had to change servers for a TFLive cast I did in like...2015? Where the STV had a capacity limit of 2 people, which meant we couldnt have our observer and both casters in.
Realistically the rule is in place so there isn't some awkward issue where RGL is all set to cast their match but cant get their casters into the game due to STV capacity and have to try and figure out who got in instead, ask for a server change and a new STV, or cancel their cast. Ideally as well, the rule theoretically forces the limited coverage resources in the scene to spread themselves out among different games, maximizing invite coverage, as opposed to having 4 feeds on the same game. (Again, showing my age, I remember a big UGC HL set of drama with eXtv and EVLTV covering the same match even though the agreement was they wouldn't)
Hopefully that slightly clarifies things regarding STV and also helps explain what I am assuming (Note: Im just a simple caster, I'm not privy to how rules come around, this is just speculation from 7 years of source game casting) is the reason this rule exists in the first place.
Edit: Ideally someone from ozfortress can hop in this thread and either confirm my understanding of relays or debunk something I said as I know ozfortress frequently had relays done for casting purposes. Alternatively Mitch could also confirm this as he took care of a lot of relay related stuff when I worked with him for CSGO.
Edit #2: I reached out to a non RGL TF2 admin I worked with frequently from my casting days, they told me that what I've said is correct, and added that having >3 normal STV slots can cause lag on the player side, hence the use of relays for more prominent streams.