Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 records 147% rise in viewing minutes

In an encouraging sign for the potential Women’s IPL, the latest edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge records a 2.45-times rise in the viewership figure from the 2.20 billion minutes the 2019 edition recorded. With the BCCI scheduling the Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah, during the IPL play-off week, it was deemed bad from a […]
 
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Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 records 147% rise in viewing minutes

In an encouraging sign for the potential Women’s IPL, the latest edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge records a 2.45-times rise in the viewership figure from the 2.20 billion minutes the 2019 edition recorded.

With the BCCI scheduling the Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah, during the IPL play-off week, it was deemed bad from a strategic standpoint with Australia hosting the Women’s Big Bash League at the same time.

But as numbers suggest, this is a massive success with as many as 105 million unique viewers tuning into the three-team competition this year.

According to the Broadcast data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India and official broadcaster, Star revealed that this year’s tournament, which was also sponsored for the first time by telecom giant Jio, recorded a 147% increase in viewing minutes. There is also a 47% rise in unique viewers in India from 2019.

“The record-breaking viewership for the Women’s T20 challenge is a testament to the love for women’s cricket in India,” Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Star India, said.

Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 records 147% rise in viewing minutes

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“At Star India, we amplified the reach and engagement through a mega cast in five language-feeds [Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada] across 11 channels, giving it an unprecedented reach, similar to that of IPL.”

Jhulan Goswami chuffed by Women’s T20 challenge success

Earlier, the BCCI, after selling the title rights to Jio and securing the IPL partners for the Women’s edition in an official partner capacity, declared the women’s T20 Challenge financially independent. The news brought a smile to the face of many women’s cricketers and Jhulan Goswami, in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, was especially proud of the popularity that the tournament created.

“I am delighted with the way the tournament has been received by TV-watching people in India in such a challenging year,” Jhulan Goswami told ESPNcricinfo.

“Women’s cricket, especially Indian women’s cricket, has been dealt a severe blow by the pandemic, and nothing seems to be on the horizon to get the ball rolling.

“This news [of the numbers] could help motivate not just those of us (who participated in the tournament) but also young girls in India dreaming to be professional cricketers despite seemingly insurmountable odds.”