Disney Star, the official broadcaster of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has unveiled that the network has recorded 1 billion views on its social media handles, along with reaching 100 million unique users.
The channel celebrated the cricket festival across the country by providing fans with a variety of experiences on the ground and through social media. The television network collaborated with experts, ambassadors, and creators to curate engaging initiatives that embodied IPL fandom.
Vikarm Passi, Head – Marketing, Star Sports Network, said, “We are ecstatic by the overwhelming response from fans across the nation during this IPL season. The incredible growth in engagement on our social media platforms and the widespread reach we achieved is a testament to the passion and love of fans and viewers that unites us all. Our dedicated efforts to create a vibrant and immersive fan experience, have truly brought the spirit of IPL to life. We remain committed to enhancing digital engagement and delivering unparalleled experiences to our fans and viewers.”
Kicking off with ‘Star Nahi Far’, Star Sports organised a one-of-a-kind opportunity for fans across the country to meet their favourite IPL players and legends up close. This initiative included ambassadors like Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, as well as cricket legends like Steve Smith. Over 50 million fans from 1450 cities took part in the ‘Star Nahi Far’ contest to meet more than 20 IPL stars, making it Glance’s largest contest.
On the ‘Star Nahi Far’ initiative, Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant said, “Meeting fans through Star Sports’ wonderful ‘Star Nahi Far’ initiative was an incredibly humbling experience for me. Their unwavering support and heartfelt wishes during the tough times touched me. I had a fantastic time interacting with everyone and playing gully cricket, which brought back so many cherished memories. The love and encouragement from the fans have fueled my determination, and I can’t wait to give my best for the country.”
Another initiative, Star Sports’ “Dream Job” campaign for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, drew 5,500 diverse entries during the IPL 2024, generating buzz on social media, with one reel receiving 61 million views. The one-of-a-kind digital activation received over 310 million views, propelling Soumi Dey Sarkar, a national-level powerlifting athlete, to victory following a rigorous selection process at TATA IPL 2024.
Star Sports worked together with over 100 top influencers in India to organise the “Ajab Gajab T20 Challenge,” a one-of-a-kind match starring creators and former cricketers. Dharna, Abhishek Malhan, Aakash Gupta, and Viraj Ghelani competed alongside cricketers Steve Smith, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Ambati Rayudu. Notably, collaborations with CarryMinati and Madan Gowri expanded content.
On his association with Star Sports for the TATA IPL 2024, CarryMinati said, “Working with Star Sports on the TATA IPL 2024 was a special experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to showcase a different side of the tournament. Working alongside cricket legends and hearing their insights was truly memorable.”
Furthermore, the ‘Incredible Premier League School Quiz’ sparked the interest of young cricket fans, cultivating their admiration for the sport and providing special possibilities for brands targeting this enthusiastic consumer cohort. The second edition of this quiz drew an unprecedented 2.1 lakh participants from over 17,000 schools.
The broadcaster has also collaborated strongly with multiple platforms, including Meta, YouTube, Glance, and Josh, to better serve the fan base. With the fan approach and regular engagements, the media outlet established an extensive fan community of around 50.9 million throughout YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook, and WhatsApp, as well as India’s largest sports community on WhatsApp, with over 15.50 million followers.