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The opening match of the Dream11 Indian Premier League between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings on September 19 garnered a viewership of 20 crore people, setting a ‘new record’, Jay Shah, Secretary, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said on Tuesday.
“Highest ever opening day viewership for any sporting league in any country — no league has ever opened as big as this,” Shah said, citing Broadcast Audience Research Council, which manages the TV audience measurement system in India. In comparison, last year, Star India had said it reached 21.9 crore television viewers across the country for the first three IPL matches put together.
“Opening match of #Dream11IPL sets a new record! As per BARC, an unprecedented 20 crore people tuned in to watch the match. Highest ever opening day viewership for any sporting league in any country — no league has ever opened as big as this. @IPL@SGanguly99@UShanx@DisneyPlusHS ,” Shah’s tweet said.
According to BBC, its broadcast of Southampton vs Manchester City on July 5 was the most watched English Premier League football match with a peak audience of 5.7 million across all platforms, including the BBC Sport website.
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Pent-up demand
Experts BusinessLine spoke to said the viewership numbers for the opening game of IPL2020 are not surprising. “This year’s IPL is the first bit of live cricket entertainment in over eight months and the pent-up demand is manifest in higher viewership.
“Besides this, factors like closure of cinema halls, multiplexes, food courts and other avenues of entertainment is aiding viewership,” said Lloyd Mathias, Business Strategist and former Asia marketing head of HP Inc.
Also, most GEC channels have limited fresh programming due to the lockdown, and big Bollywood blockbusters are on hold, Mathias pointed out.
“Finally, with most people still working from home, the saving in office commuting time is giving people more time at home for taking in cricket,” he added.
Fear economy
Harish Bijoor, brand strategy expert and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc, said: “I do believe that IPL2020 and its joie de vivre breaks into the psyche of the fear economy we have been in. Fun is back. Cricket is back as is 'cricketainment'. I expect future matches to see good numbers,” said .
Highest ever opening day viewership for any sporting league in any country — no league has ever opened as big as this.
Also read: IPL an opportunity to capitalise on excitement among Indian sports community: Dream11 Co-Founder
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