The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just about the thrilling matches anymore; it's breaking viewership records too! Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the Tata IPL, revealed that the first 10 matches of the tournament have smashed all previous records, drawing a staggering 350 million viewers according to BARC data.
This surpasses even the viewership figures seen during the pandemic, when cricket enthusiasts were glued to their screens while staying home. The IPL fever is at an all-time high this year, with fans witnessing Sunrisers Hyderabad's historic run spree and Virat Kohli's scintillating form putting him in contention for the prestigious Orange Cap, awarded to the tournament's top scorer.
The excitement doesn't stop there. New stars like Mayank Yadav have emerged, with his pace bowling earning accolades from cricketing legends worldwide. This signifies a moment of self-reliance for Indian cricket and the IPL, which previously relied heavily on overseas talent for fast-paced bowling.
The total watch time for the tournament on TV has soared to 8,028 crore minutes, marking a significant 20% increase from last year. Match ratings for this season have also seen a remarkable 22% rise compared to the previous edition.
With the upcoming Rivalry Week scheduled from 8th to 14th April, the broadcaster anticipates these numbers to climb even higher.
On the opening day of the 17th edition of Tata IPL 2024, a whopping 168 million unique viewers tuned in, setting a new record for the highest watch time on the first day of any IPL season. The watch time on day one alone reached an incredible 1,276 crore minutes.
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