The inaugural season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) made headlines on the front page around the world as it received humongous viewership numbers owing to top-quality broadcast.
The ILT20 had a wonderful response from cricket fans all over the world, particularly in India, due to a high-quality broadcast on ZEE Entertainment Enterprises‘ linear and digital channels, including commentary in English, Hindi, and Tamil.
According to YouGov Sport, one of the world’s largest sports, sponsorship, and entertainment research businesses, the ILT20 season one was the second most-watched tournament in India.
The ILT20 reached 255.4 million fans in India, while the league’s TV ratings and reach were 0.19. The first edition of the event was well-received by viewers as to the high-quality performances of the largest gathering of foreign players in any tournament, with 118 international players competing in the league.
The event captivated fans with its exemplary coverage, which included match highlights and clips made accessible to viewers not just on Zee’s linear and digital channels, but also on the ILT20’s digital platforms.
The ILT20 2023 edition also created a global impression, with 367 million worldwide unique viewers via TV and digital channels.
General Secretary ECB Mubashshir Usmani, said, “We are delighted with our broadcast numbers for the inaugural season. The DP World ILT20 made waves around the world including India. The support that the league got speaks volumes about the quality of cricket that the inaugural DP World ILT20 provided to the fans. We are fully focussed on making the second season bigger and better. The DP World ILT20 is here to stay and we have no doubt that with the support of the franchises, our broadcast partners Zee and all our other stakeholders, the league will gain more popularity.”
Zee President Business Rahul Johri, commented, “The DP World ILT20 season one has been a phenomenal success in India and across the world. It was watched by over 250 million viewers on linear television and digital platforms, making it the second most-watched T20 cricket league in the world. We are equally delighted that advertisers and distribution partners gained tremendous value from the league. We are extremely proud of our relationship with the Emirates Cricket Board and are confident of scaling bigger milestones in the following years.”
Managing Director YouGov Sport, India Joseph Eapen, said, “We, YouGov Sport, the trusted official media evaluation supplier to a wide range of cricket leagues globally, possess comprehensive insights into the crucial success parameters of these leagues. In this regard, DP World ILT20 has proven to be an exceptional success story right from its inaugural season, which is truly commendable. Notably, DP World ILT20 has achieved a remarkable reach of over 367m unique viewers globally of which more than 250 viewers are from India, according to BARC: a monumental accomplishment unparalleled by any other T20 league, in their first season.”
There will be more to come as the DP World ILT20 event returns on January 13, 2024. A flurry of interesting developments is on the way as teams prepare for the player retention procedure while also lining up prospective new recruits from the UAE.
Season two will include an exceptional roster of players, while home-grown and produced UAE talent will once again demonstrate the nation’s cricketing skill, nous, and depth.