Dubai: A Historic ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has made headlines for breaking viewership records in India, showcasing the immense popularity of cricket in the country. According to a media release from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament’s TV ratings soared to unprecedented heights, surpassing the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 by an impressive 23 percent. This remarkable achievement underscores cricket’s status as a national passion in India.
Record-Breaking Viewership Numbers
The live broadcast of the Champions Trophy garnered staggering viewership statistics, with a total watch time of 137 billion minutes on Star Sports and an additional 110 billion minutes on JioHotstar. These figures reflect the tournament’s widespread appeal and the excitement it generated among fans. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the blockbuster final between India and New Zealand, held in Dubai on March 9. This match reached a peak concurrency of 122 million live viewers on TV and 61 million on JioHotstar, setting a new record for digital viewership in cricket.
The Final: A Spectacle of Cricket
The final match itself became a historic event, marking the second-highest rated One Day International (ODI) in television history, outside of ICC Cricket World Cup matches. With 230 million viewers tuning in for the live broadcast, the match accumulated an astonishing 53 billion minutes of watch time across both TV and digital platforms. ICC Chairman Jay Shah expressed his excitement over the overwhelming viewership numbers, particularly highlighting the final’s significance in rekindling interest in the Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus.
Engaging the Audience
Jay Shah emphasized the importance of cricket’s mass appeal in India and noted how the ICC’s strategy of delivering events in multiple languages significantly boosted fan engagement. The marketing efforts surrounding the Champions Trophy were designed to create excitement among both existing and new fanbases, complemented by thrilling cricket throughout the tournament. This approach proved effective, as evidenced by the record-breaking viewership figures.
The India-Pakistan Rivalry
One of the tournament’s standout moments was the high-profile encounter between archrivals India and Pakistan, which became one of the most-watched ODI matches in India’s history. This match clocked over 26 billion minutes of watch time on linear TV, surpassing the India-Pakistan match in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 by an impressive 10.8%. The Champions Trophy match attracted 206 million viewers on linear TV, further solidifying India’s dominance over Pakistan in global ICC events.
Multi-Platform Coverage
The remarkable viewership numbers can be attributed to the extensive coverage provided by rights holders JioStar. The tournament was broadcast live across various channels, ensuring that fans could catch the action in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. On digital platforms, the tournament was streamed live across a record 16 feeds, featuring nine languages and multiple camera angles, including an Indian Sign Language feed and a Max View feed on JioHotstar.
Engaging Programming and Fan Interaction
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was not just about the matches; it also featured captivating programming that kept fans engaged throughout the tournament. The lead-up to the event included various promotional activities that heightened anticipation and excitement among viewers. This comprehensive approach to fan engagement played a crucial role in driving the tournament’s success and viewership.
A Testament to Cricket’s Popularity
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has undoubtedly set a new benchmark for cricket viewership in India. The combination of thrilling matches, strategic marketing, and extensive coverage across multiple platforms has created a perfect storm of engagement and excitement. As cricket continues to capture the hearts of millions, the success of this tournament serves as a testament to the sport’s enduring popularity in India and beyond.
With the ICC Champions Trophy making a triumphant return, cricket fans can look forward to more exhilarating moments in the future, as the sport continues to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide.
