IPL 2023 hit a staggering 449 million overall viewership: Viacom18 CEO

The Indian Premier League or IPL 2023 was a resounding success, drawing an unprecedented 449 million viewers in total, including 120 million connected TV consumers on Viacom18’s platform, according to CEO Anil Jayaraj. He revealed these figures during his speech last month at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru.

IPL 2023 hit 449 million overall viewership on Viacom18 says CEO Anil Jayaraj at RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India

Jayaraj championed the use of Artificial Intelligence and digital technology in the future of sports broadcasting in India. He highlighted the uniqueness and scale of IPL, and how remarkable it was to engage 120 million users on connected TV in its first year. He believes that technological advancements will significantly reshape the digital landscape, with innovations primarily happening in the digital sphere, especially in India. He predicted that AI would revolutionize content production and automation.

Leaders Meet India, organised by the RCB Innovation Lab, brought together influential leaders from various sectors of the sports industry to discuss leadership dynamics in the constantly evolving sports landscape.

Jayaraj also emphasized the growing popularity of women’s sports, citing the Women’s Premier League’s (WPL) exceptional interest among viewers, advertisers, and investors. He praised the quality of production by BCCI and noted that it provided advertisers with a unique opportunity to target a different demographic, leading to significant financial benefits for investors like Viacom18.

Aside from cricket, Jayaraj spoke about the rising consumption of other sports in India. He expressed hope that the upcoming Paris Olympics would help diversify this trend. While acknowledging that cricket dominates Indian broadcast programmes, he remained optimistic that more victories by Indian athletes at the Olympics could shift viewer interest.

Finally, Jayaraj observed that live viewing is the primary mode of sports consumption in India, with 99% of viewership being online and live. However, he also expressed optimism about the growth potential of sports documentaries and docuseries in India over the next few years.