IPL 2020: Record-breaking 269 million people watched the tournament in its opening week

The much-awaited thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), after many delays, finally rolled out from September 19th in the UAE. The tournament, despite still being in its early stage, has enthralled fans with multiple high-scoring matches. Fans have also witnessed two Super Over thrillers so far in the league.

The T20 extravaganza, as expected, has garnered millions of views since its start. The IPL 2020 has lived up to its potential and while attracting fans from all across the globe, the league was watched by 269 million viewers in the opening week. As compared to 2019, the IPL has observed a rise of 11 million viewers per match and a 15 per cent hike in advertising volume than the previous edition.

As per a BARC-Nielsen report titled ‘Television Viewership and Advertising Consumption of IPL-13 2020’, there was a 21 per cent growth in the average impressions per match as compared to last year. One out of every three television viewers watched the T20 action getting unfolded in the UAE. The opening week of this year’s IPL also saw a 15 per cent growth in viewing minutes in comparison to the previous edition.

The OTT platforms have also witnessed a growth

The growth in the viewership hasn’t been limited to the medium of television. Even on the OTT platforms, the user base has seen a 32 per cent increase over the recent weeks. A steep rise in the viewership was seen in the opening match of IPL 2020 itself, where defending champions Mumbai Indians locked horns with MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings. The tournament opener gained 52 million impressions (29 per cent higher than 2019) while matches 2 to 7 garnered more than 34 million impressions.

The age bracket of 15-21 has been the biggest contributor behind in these staggering viewership figures. Moreover, smartphone usage saw an increase in 8 per cent as compared to recent weeks. While the second phase of lockdown registered usage at three hours and 54 minutes, the week of September 19 saw usage at three hours and 29 minutes.

The IPL 2020 is slated to be a 53-day event, three days longer than the previous season. With still a month more to go before its culmination, the IPL 2020 is expected to keep garnering views during the next few weeks.