Opening week of IPL had record 269 million viewers: Study

Saturday, 3 October 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: A record 269 million viewers tuned in for the opening week of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), which is being held in the United Arab Emirates due to the COVID-19 crisis, with viewing minutes up 15%, data released on Thursday showed.

The Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC) said the first seven matches of the tournament’s 13th edition from 19 to 25 September had 60.6 billion viewing minutes, 15% more than the opening week of the 2019 edition (52.8 billion).

“We’re thrilled to deliver the biggest ever IPL. The opening week... resulted in a staggering new viewership record,” Gautam Thakar, the CEO of broadcaster Star Sports said in a statement.

“Dream11 IPL 2020 wouldn’t have been possible without the support of all our sponsors and stakeholders. Our teams are working tirelessly in a bio-secure bubble in India and UAE to bring fans closer to the game.”

The increase in viewership for the 2020 edition – up from 268 million viewers in 2019, was despite there being only seven matches in the opening week, one fewer than last year, BARC said.

The season opener between champions Mumbai Indians and three-time winners Chennai Super Kings on 19 September was watched by 158 million viewers, it added.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.