Disney Star, the official television broadcaster of IPL 2023, has reported record-breaking viewership figures for the first 19 matches of the ongoing season. According to BARC data for 2+ age groups across Urban + Rural markets, 36.9 crore viewers tuned in to Network's live broadcast, which is the highest ever in the league's history even after considering the two editions played during Covid-19.
The broadcaster also registered 11,350 crore (113.5 billion) minutes of watch time for the first 19 matches. The network saw a 25% increase in match TVR compared to the last edition, according to BARC data.
Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney Star, said, "It has been a record-breaking start to Tata IPL 2023 on Disney Star, eclipsing all previous benchmarks for viewership of the first 19 matches. Close matches and scintillating individual performances combined with the power of Star Sports' #BetterTogether campaign and world-class storytelling capabilities have ensured that viewership for IPL 2023 in just 19 matches is within touching distance of the viewership registered by the full season last year."
The network offers over nine different language feeds, catering to audiences across the country. It also provides region-specific pre-match analysis, post-match discussions, fan polls, and interactive segments with renowned cricket experts.
Disney Star has associated with some of the biggest cricket stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and KL Rahul to bring fans stories beyond the game through a special programming initiative, 'Stars on Star'.
The network has also partnered with Rajasthan Royals, KKR, LSG, and PBSK, offering behind-the-scenes access, interviews with players and coaches, and other exciting content that has helped increase overall engagement for the league.
Disney Star has pushed the envelope to attract a more diverse audience to the mix, with celebrity associations including Ranveer Singh, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Pooja Hegde, and Nandamuri Balakrishna.
"We are seeing record viewership in multiple audience cohorts across age groups, gender, and SECs, which is indicative of Television being the most preferred destination for family/community viewing of marquee sporting events," Gupta said. "We are thankful to fans for the outpouring of love and support for Disney Star's coverage of IPL. We will strive to continue elevating the viewing experience."