The ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, hosted in India, has witnessed an unprecedented surge in viewership, setting new records in the history of the tournament.
Record-breaking Audience Engagement
The initial 18 matches of the tournament attracted an impressive 364.2 million viewers, who spent a cumulative 123.8 billion minutes watching Disney Star’s live broadcast in India. This represents a significant 43% increase in viewership compared to the 2019 tournament.
Historic Matches Garner Massive Viewership
The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan on 14th October in Ahmedabad drew a peak live television audience of 76 million, with an additional 35 million concurrent viewers on digital platforms.
Subsequently, India’s face-off against New Zealand in Dharamsala on 22nd October broke new records for the largest ever concurrent digital audience. The final overs of the match saw a staggering 43 million concurrent viewers on Disney+ Hotstar, setting a new high for digital viewership across all cricket formats.
Leaders Express Delight Over Audience Response
ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice, expressed his delight over the overwhelming audience response to the World Cup. He noted that the tournament has captivated the Indian public, with record-breaking viewership and fan engagement.
Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney Star, anticipates the viewership numbers to continue to rise, given the strong performance of the Indian team and the competitive nature of the tournament.
Record-breaking On-ground Attendance
It’s not just the digital and television viewership that’s soaring. The on-ground attendance has also seen a significant boost, with 542,000 people attending matches by the midpoint of the tournament. This marks a 190,000 audience increase compared to the previous ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2019.
Watch the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Live
Cricket enthusiasts can continue to watch the remainder of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 live and free on mobile via Disney+ Hotstar. The tournament is also being broadcast live on the Star Sports Network.