-By ArdorComm News Network
October 28, 2023
Disney Star has achieved record-breaking viewership for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, showcasing the widespread cricket fever. According to data from BARC shared by Disney Star, the first 18 matches of the tournament amassed a staggering 123.8 billion viewing minutes. This reflects a remarkable 43% increase compared to the previous edition held in England and Wales in 2019. Additionally, the current World Cup, which commenced on October 5, attracted 364.2 million viewers for these initial 18 matches.
One of the standout moments was the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash on October 14, which saw 76 million concurrent TV viewers and 35 million simultaneous digital viewers. The tournament also witnessed a new digital concurrency record during the India vs. New Zealand match in Dharamsala on October 22, surpassing the previous record set during the India-Pakistan match, with 43 million viewers on Disney+ Hotstar. This epic clash marked the highest peak viewership in digital cricket history across all formats.
Notably, attendance at the venues also surged, with over 542,000 fans present at matches during the first half of the tournament. This is a substantial increase of 190,000 more attendees compared to the equivalent stage in 2019, as reported by the broadcaster.
Disney Star anticipates further momentum in the tournament, driven by the strong performance of the Indian team, the fluctuating fortunes of top teams, and a competitive points table, according to Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney Star. The broadcaster remains committed to delivering exceptional coverage of the global event and aims to continue delighting sports fans around the world.