The recent clash between India and New Zealand in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 semi-finals sparked historic moments not just on the field but also in the digital domain. Disney+ Hotstar witnessed an astonishing surge, hitting a peak of over 5.3 crore concurrent viewers during India’s innings against New Zealand.
Key Points:
Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone: The clash between India and New Zealand in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 semi-finals marked a historic moment for Disney+ Hotstar. Witnessing an extraordinary surge, the platform soared to a peak of over 5.3 crore concurrent viewers during crucial match moments.
Escalating Viewer Engagement: Commencing with 5.1 crore viewers during India’s innings, the platform hit an astounding 5.3 crore concurrent viewership while New Zealand chased India’s remarkable target of 398 runs. This match stood out as a new pinnacle, setting an unprecedented record of 5.3 crore concurrent views on Disney+ Hotstar.
World Cup Fever on Digital Platforms: As India secures a place in the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup finals after a decade, anticipation intensifies for another milestone in concurrent viewership when India faces the winner of Australia vs South Africa encounter in the upcoming title clash.
The Impact of Free Streaming: The surge in viewership owes credit to Disney+ Hotstar’s strategic move to stream the ICC Men’s World Cup in an ad-supported free format. This approach follows the success witnessed during the IPL season earlier this year, aligning with JioCinema’s similar strategy of streaming all IPL matches for free.
Evolution of Digital Sports Broadcasting: The recent record-breaking viewership marks a significant progression from previous benchmarks. Notably, during the 2019 World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand, Hotstar set a record with 25.3 million concurrent viewers. This exponential rise in digital viewership underscores the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, emphasizing the growing accessibility of live sporting events to global audiences.
Implications for the Sports and Media Industry: The staggering surge in viewership on digital platforms indicates a paradigm shift in audience behavior, highlighting the immense potential of live sports streaming. The successful free-to-view model adopted by Disney+ Hotstar signifies a changing trend in engaging a broader audience base.
