India Clinches Third ICC Champions Trophy Title as Digital Viewership Soars to New Heights
The recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy, held across Pakistan and the UAE, has captivated cricket fans worldwide, with Team India emerging victorious under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. This marks India’s third Champions Trophy title, following their previous wins in 2013 under MS Dhoni. The final match, which saw India take on New Zealand, was a true spectacle, not only on the field but in the digital world as well.
The India vs. New Zealand final, streamed live on JioCinema (formerly JioHotstar), shattered previous viewership records, accumulating over 90 crore views. This remarkable achievement sets a new benchmark in digital sports broadcasting and showcases the growing trend of cricket fans turning to digital platforms for live sports content.
According to reports from national media outlets, the total viewership for the entire Champions Trophy tournament reached an astounding 540.3 crore views. The cumulative watch time stood at an impressive 11,000 crore minutes, surpassing the combined populations of India (143 crore) and China (141 crore). Furthermore, peak concurrent viewership touched a high of 6.2 crore viewers, underlining the tournament’s widespread appeal and engagement across the globe.
Kiran Mani, CEO of JioCinema Digital, shared his insights into the phenomenal engagement, stating, “The ICC Champions Trophy saw massive audience engagement, with millions tuning in across the globe. The first semi-final match between India and Australia, in particular, recorded a significant surge in subscriptions on a single day.”
Mani also pointed out that 38% of the total viewership came from Hindi-speaking regions. Key states contributing to the viewership included Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Goa, Punjab, and Haryana, further illustrating cricket’s broad appeal across various regions of India.
This landmark digital viewership marks a major milestone for sports broadcasting in India and highlights the rapid growth of online platforms as the future of sports entertainment. With millions of fans eagerly tuning in to watch their favorite teams battle it out, the digital revolution in cricket broadcasting continues to gain momentum, promising even greater engagement and innovation in the years to come.
