Cricket chiefs have revealed broadcast and digital records were smashed at the men’s World Cup, with Australia’s win over hosts India proving the most watched game in the history of the sport.
More viewers than ever before saw Pat Cummins’ team crowned champions for the sixth time in Ahmedabad, according to figures released by the International Cricket Council on Wednesday.
The entire event registered a record one trillion global live viewing minutes of broadcast, an increase of 38% from the last edition of the tournament held in the Indian sub-continent, in 2011, and 17% more than the 2019 event in the UK.
Figures for the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s biggest cricket stadium, were staggering, with 87.6 billion live viewing minutes recorded globally, representing a 46% growth compared to the last final to be staged in India 12 years earlier between the home country and Sri Lanka.
The ICC said the TV audience for the final, which Australia won by six wickets, peaked at 130 million.
The 2023 edition was also the most broadcast tournament ever in Australia, where there were massive jumps in viewership compared to the 2011 event played in the same time zone.
In Australia, there were 602 hours of live coverage with 3.79 billion minutes of live viewing – 92% more than in 2011.
The success of Cummins’ side after a poor start also led to a huge increase in the overall Australian audience with 9.1 million people watching the 2023 event compared to the 2019 edition in England and Wales which had 6.1 million tuning in.
The tournament also hit new heights in terms of digital engagements, with 16.9 billion video views, which represented a 158% increase from the Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to announce the record-breaking viewership and engagement numbers for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, making it the biggest World Cup ever.”
RobPeters
Roar Rookie
I am more interested in where those ratings and numbers are globally and if there is an increase in watching from non cricket playing nations. I don't think it means much if the bulk of the numbers are from India or the rest of the subcontinent or other traditional cricket playing regions.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Did you buy her a Christmas gift (Santa bikini set)
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
My German Psychologist could explain it. Sometimes l don't hear what she says because she's so beautiful.
Ad Tastic
Roar Rookie
I have to admit. It was pretty sweet watching 95K India fans look like somebody just ran over their cat. Greatest heist in WC history IMHO.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
India choked big time against the Aussies. They will need the best psychologist to arrest the elephant in the room.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm chuffed for cricket in general that so many people actually watched some or all of the WC and especially the final, but trotting out the really big numbers is never a good idea. It forces some people like me to compare with soccer World Cups and even one-off events like Super Bowls and when that happens, these big numbers are quickly made to look pretty small in the scheme of things. For example, on the American Fox network alone, more than 115 million people saw the last Super Bowl. That does not include the tens of millions who watched it around the world. The Qatar World Cup final was watched by 1.5 billion people. Next tme, the ICC needs to stick with the percentages. They look way more impressive.