Disney Star breaches 500 million mark in IPL 2023

Mumbai, June 08, 2023: Disney Star, the official television broadcaster of IPL 2023, has etched its name in history by delivering the biggest IPL ever on television, making it the first cricket tournament to register over half a billion viewers. According to BARC, an astounding 505 million viewers tuned in to Disney Star's live broadcast of the matches. Disney Star has accumulated a staggering 427.1 billion minutes of watch time for the live broadcast of the matches, underscoring the immense popularity of the tournament among passionate fans. Furthermore, the broadcaster has witnessed a remarkable growth of 32% in match TVR* compared to the last edition.

The Finals between GT and CSK registered a peak concurrency of 64.1 million- the highest for IPL 2023. Additionally, 47 out of 74 matches registered peak concurrency of more than 30 million. The Hindi Speaking Markets continued to break records with 334 million fans watching the tournament, a growth of 47% compared to the last edition. Viewership among kids also increased by 64% compared to the last edition, emphasizing that IPL is most enjoyed together on the big screen. The broadcaster has reached new heights in high-definition (HD) broadcasting, with an incredible 101 million viewers tuning in to the HD broadcast. This number is three times higher compared to last year, demonstrating the growing preference for high-definition sports viewing.

Sanjog Gupta, Head – Sports, Disney Star said, "We are thankful for the overwhelming support of our fans, who joined us in our journey to make IPL 2023 the most-watched Cricketing event in India's broadcast history. From last ball nail-biters to high-scoring thrillers, from the addition of the impact player rule to the emergence of future stars, from the last spot on the playoffs being decided in the last league stage match to the tournament winner being decided on the final ball, this edition of IPL has been special in many ways. Countless memories will be etched in cricket history including the fact that is the first time that half a billion viewers tuned in for a Cricket tournament.”

“We would also like to express our sincere appreciation for the BCCI, the players, and the franchisees for putting on such a spectacle. We believe our #BetterTogether campaign and world-class coverage of the event bolstered the efforts of the entire ecosystem. As we celebrate this historic IPL season, we are energized to continue pushing the boundaries and delivering exceptional cricket experiences across linear and digital screens to fans across the country,” he added.

Disney Star's monumental achievement in broadcasting the IPL 2023 has been a massive success, cementing its place in the annals of sports television history. The pre-tournament build-up programming created history by attracting a record-breaking 205.6 million viewers, setting the stage for an unforgettable season. The broadcaster’s efforts to engage and captivate viewers by providing best-in-class content and surround programming have yielded exceptional results. The overwhelming response from viewers across demographics showcases the success of IPL 2023 and highlights the broadcaster’s commitment to delivering high-quality content that resonates with audiences.

Source: BARC

*- Figures are for M15+ including OOH

All figures are for 2+U+R including OOH