'Cricket Live' garners viewership of 273 mn in first 34 matches of CWC 2023: Star Sports

Till match 34 of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Cricket Live, the in-depth analysis show on Star Sports, has captivated 273 million viewers, with a watch time of 19 billion minutes, a growth of 6% compared to the 2019 edition, said Star Sports stating BARC data.

Star Sports further said that the show witnessed an uptick of 10% in average time spent by viewers, compared to the 2019 edition. “In the pre-show, the first half-hour has experienced the most significant surge, with consumption levels up by 27%, and average time spent per viewer up by 18%. The post-shows have also flourished, boasting an incredible 117% higher consumption and an impressive 38% higher reach compared to the previous edition,” said the channel.

Cricket Live on regional feeds (Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada) has grown in consumption by 122% (3.4 billion minutes), compared to the last edition and its viewership has increased by 46% (62.2 Mn), compared to 2019, stated the Disney Star sports channel.

Cricket Live has been delivering compelling narratives of Indian and foreign players. From Bumrah's much-anticipated return to Shami's stellar performances, Virat's pursuit of glory, and Rohit's captaincy, the coverage resonated with fans worldwide. The stories extended beyond borders, highlighting Rachin's journey, Pakistan's cricketing odyssey, and exclusive confessions from Australian players about their rivals. Adding a personal touch, Cricket Live celebrated the birthdays of stars like Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli, fostering a deeper connection with fans. Not limiting the narrative to players, an anthem titled ‘Tum ho apne saath mein’ was curated for Team India, aiming to galvanize fans in unwavering support of the entire squad. The most-watched Cricket show has collaborated with influencers and content creators from across the country to build fandom for Team India. Fans have also been able to ask compelling questions to the StarCast and get featured on the broadcast via #AskStar.

Cricket Live on Star Sports showcased exclusive interviews featuring Team India heroes. A special content campaign, "WE FOR VIRAT," celebrated Virat Kohli's historic feats, offering a glimpse into various facets of his life, personality, and illustrious career. The coverage extended to behind-the-scenes moments, backstories of players from the ICC World Cup 2023, and debates pitting experts against each other on burning topics and contextual big stories of the day. Special segments like "What's Trending," "Unboxing," "Wow Factor," "Versus," and "Cheeky Singles" capture all aspects of the World Cup.

In terms of technological innovation, Cricket Live utilises a decibel meter for real-time crowd noise data, holographic teleportation to virtually transport commentators, and 3D-rendered graphics placing players next to iconic monuments like the Gateway of India. “The usage of Augmented Reality (AR) graphics to display stats seamlessly on the pitch, and Quad replay technology to enhance the replay experience for a comprehensive view of key moments have made the cricket viewing and analysing experience more immersive for fans globally,” said Star Sports.

The star cast of Cricket Live has so far included Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, K Srikanth, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, and S Sreesanth, the former Indian Chairmen of Selectors, such as MSK Prasad, Sandeep Patil, and Sunil Joshi, along with the esteemed former India batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, the former cricket legends and World Cup winners Shane Watson, Aaron Finch, Matthew Hayden, Dale Steyn, Faf Du Plesis, Imran Tahir, Shane Bond, and Paul Collingwood.

In a celebration of India's linguistic diversity and cricketing fervour, Star Sports provided an immersive experience for fans with exclusive broadcasts in various regional languages. The Tamil feed featured former World Cup winners K Srikanth and S Sreesanth, complemented by insights from players S Ramesh and Russel Arnold. The Telugu feed was enriched by former India Chief Selector MSK Prasad, seasoned campaigner, and former Indian women’s captain Mithali Raj, and experienced cricketer Venugopal Rao. The Kannada feed showcased the esteemed presence of former Indian legend Gundappa Viswanath and former India cricketers Vijay Bharadwaj, Vinay Kumar, and Sunil Joshi, alongside local cricketing talents. This diverse and talented roster ensured that Cricket Live not only entertained but also educated cricket enthusiasts with unparalleled insights and perspectives.

Cricket Live has welcomed a plethora of celebrities, including Bollywood Superstars Salman Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon and the entire cast of 'The Archies'. South Superstars like Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra, Venkatesh Raghupathi, Ravi Teja and more also graced the regional shows.

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