Mumbai: Women’s T20 cricket in India is witnessing an extraordinary surge in popularity, with Disney Star, the official broadcaster of ICC and ACC women's cricket events, recording a remarkable increase in viewership numbers. According to BARC, the recently concluded Women's Asia Cup 2024 garnered an impressive 52 million viewers, marking a 126 per cent increase in reach compared to the 2022 edition.
The surge in viewership was further highlighted by extraordinary total watch times. The Women's Asia Cup 2024 recorded a staggering 3.95 billion minutes of watch time, a 206 per cent rise from the 2022 edition, while the 2023 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup amassed an unprecedented 6.7 billion minutes, a 18 per cent increase since the 2020 edition. These figures set a new standard for how women’s cricket is consumed in India, and nation’s growing passion and excitement for women's cricket.
Speaking on growth of viewership in women’s cricket, a Star Sports spokesperson said, “Women’s cricket has witnessed a tremendous surge in viewership and interest over the past few years, and these latest results are a testament to our relentless efforts in capturing and amplifying the audiences’ passion for the game. Star Sports has been an integral part of this journey from the very beginning, ensuring that our Women in Blue receive the spotlight they deserve. Through our extensive coverage of marquee tournaments and the remarkable engagement on our digital platforms, we have created a platform for our talented women cricketers to truly shine. The future of women’s cricket in India has never looked brighter, and we are excited to continue championing this incredible journey.”
This growth is a continuation of Disney Star’s long-standing commitment to popularising women’s cricket in India. Beginning with the live broadcast of the Women's World Cup in 2013, Disney Star has consistently led efforts to draw attention to and create deeper connections with the women’s game. Through innovative production and programming initiatives, award-winning marketing campaigns, and dynamic digital activations, the network has made women’s cricket a household sport across India.
Viewers and fans can be guaranteed the same intensity with the upcoming broadcast of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup from 3 October 2024. The broadcaster will showcase the marquee tournament in multi-language feeds of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada for India matches, making the tournament more accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Co are grouped with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. India will get their campaign underway on 4 October against New Zealand from 7:30 pm IST. The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for 6 October 2024 from 3:30 pm IST. Each team will play four group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals on 17 and 18 October leading up to the final on 20 October.
