The Indian Premiere League (IPL) 2023 has achieved an extraordinary milestone by becoming the first cricket tournament ever to attract over half a billion viewers. Disney Star, the official broadcaster of the IPL, registered a staggering 505 million viewers for its live broadcast of the matches, according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. This remarkable feat firmly cements IPL 2023 as the biggest season in the tournament’s history. Let us discuss on the impact of IPL 2023’s massive viewership on Television.
The IPL, telecasted on the Star Sports Network, captivated cricket fans nationwide, accumulating a total watch time of 427.1 billion minutes. This incredible figure underscores the immense popularity of the tournament and the unwavering passion of its devoted fans. Disney Star also experienced significant growth in television ratings, with a 32% increase compared to the previous edition of the IPL.
The grand final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans reached unprecedented heights with a peak concurrency of 64.1 million viewers. Furthermore, an impressive 47 out of the 74 matches achieved a peak concurrency of over 30 million viewers. These numbers reflect the intense engagement and enthusiasm that IPL 2023 generated among cricket enthusiasts.
IPL 2023 saw an impressive 47% growth in Hindi-speaking markets, attracting 334 million viewers. Children’s viewership also surged by 64% compared to the previous edition, emphasizing IPL’s popularity as a family viewing experience. Furthermore, Star Sports HD channels witnessed a three-fold increase in viewership, with 101 million fans opting for high-definition broadcasting, showcasing the rising demand for superior visual experiences among cricket enthusiasts.
Sanjog Gupta, the Head of Sports at Disney Star, expressed immense satisfaction with the resounding success of the tournament, both from a business and fan perspective. He expressed gratitude to the fans for their overwhelming support and credited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the players, and the franchisees for their contributions to the tournament’s success.
As IPL 2023 celebrates this historic season, the tournament’s success inspires Disney Star to continue pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional cricket experiences across linear and digital screens to fans nationwide. The overwhelming response and massive viewership of half a billion viewers testify to the enduring popularity and significance of the IPL as India’s premier cricketing extravaganza.
