Mumbai: Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2023, has achieved a record milestone for sports viewing in India. With an astonishing 266 million viewers tuning in to the Star Sports’ live broadcast for the tournament, excluding the final, Asia Cup 2023 has become the most-watched edition of the tournament. Total viewing time for the tournament has increased by 75 per cent compared to the previous edition with over 73.5 billion minutes watched, excluding the final. The ‘Super 4’ encounter between the ‘Greatest Rivals’ (India & Pakistan) was the highest-rated ODI match ever, outside of world cups, garnering more than 6.4 million AMAs.
The tournament also witnessed 75 per cent growth in live match ratings (TVR**) for non-India matches. The extraordinary response to the tournament reaffirms fans’ love for multi-nation cricket with marquee stature and strong context.
“Disney Star’s presentation of Asia Cup 2023 was focused on elevating the stature of the event as a premier multi-nation tournament with the greatest rivalry – India v Pakistan – as its centerpiece. The unparalleled success of the tournament, despite challenges related to the unpredictable weather, reflects the impact of Star Sports’ multi-dimensional marketing campaigns, enhanced programming, ‘Best in the world’ coverage and most of all, the deep relationship India’s leading sports broadcaster has with Indian Cricket fans. It also underlines the pre-eminence of marquee multilateral sporting events on TV as the ultimate aggregator of audiences. The record viewership for India and non-India matches in Asia Cup also sets the stage for fandom to touch new highs during ICC CWC 2023 and for previous records to be challenged,” said a Star Sports spokesperson.
Asia Cup 2023 was not just about on-field heroics; it was a complete cricketing experience that brought fans closer to the game they adore. Star Sports went the extra mile to provide viewers with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Team India. A diverse panel of cricketing experts offered their insights and analyses, elevating the viewing experience to new heights and keeping fans engaged on rain-affected matchdays. Shows such as 'Follow the Blues,' 'Game Plan,' and 'Cricket Countdown' delved deep into the nuances of every game, enriching the understanding of die-hard fans and casual enthusiasts alike. These shows not only provided a comprehensive view of the tournament but also celebrated the spirit of cricket.
Asia Cup 2023 has set the stage for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and Star Sports is geared up to bring fans closer to the live cricketing action with Team India playing the warm matches against England and Netherlands on 30 September and 3 October respectively.
Catch all the action from India’s warm-up matches vs England and Netherlands, on 30 September and 3 October, LIVE & exclusive on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.
Footnote:
*- BARC data for 2+U+R for live and broadcast
**- BARC data for India U 15+ MAB
