Karachi, The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, hosted in India, has shattered broadcast and digital viewership records, establishing itself as the most watched tournament in cricket history. This year’s event, which saw Australia clinch their sixth title, achieved an unprecedented 1 trillion global live viewing minutes.
According to International Cricket Council, the tournament’s innovative broadcasting approach, particularly the introduction of vertical video feeds, greatly enhanced the viewing experience, especially on mobile devices. This innovation led to a significant increase in global live viewing hours, up by 38% from the 2011 edition and 17% from the 2019 edition.
The final match between India and Australia, held at the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium, set a new record as the most-watched ICC match ever, with 87.6 billion live viewing minutes globally. This marked a 46% growth compared to the 2011 final.
The tournament’s reach was unprecedented, with coverage provided by 20 broadcast partners across 209 territories. A notable first was the availability of Hindi coverage outside India, offered by ESPN+, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, and Willow TV. Geoff Allardice, ICC Chief Executive, highlighted the exceptional viewership and engagement numbers, pointing to the increased global interest in ICC events.
In India, viewership reached new heights with the Disney Star Network recording 422 billion viewing minutes, making it the most-watched Cricket World Cup in the country. The event was broadcast across 22 channels in nine languages, significantly enhancing its accessibility and reach.
The 2023 edition also saw an increase in female viewership, which rose to 34%. The final match alone attracted a peak TV audience of 130 million, with a total of 300 million people watching it on the Disney Star network in India.
The United Kingdom and Australia too witnessed substantial viewership growth. The UK broadcast 800 hours of live coverage, while Australia showcased 602 hours of live coverage, a 92% increase from their 2011 viewership figures.
Other countries such as Pakistan, South Africa, and the United States also recorded high viewership numbers, with the U.S. experiencing a 14% increase in coverage hours from 2019. The final match became the most-watched with 48 million live viewing minutes in the U.S.
Digital engagement on ICC platforms reached an all-time high with 16.9 billion video views and 1.23 billion social media engagements, reflecting the ICC’s commitment to bringing fans closer to the action, regardless of their location. The partnership with Meta and the extensive behind-the-scenes content further contributed to the tournament’s digital success.
In summary, the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has set a new standard in sports broadcasting and digital engagement, solidifying cricket’s growing global appeal and reach.