IPL opener exceeds TV expectations

Wed, 23/04/2008 - 10:45

Media | India | Audience Data | Cricket

The opening match of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament attracted twice as many Indian television viewers as expected.

For the first match, played in Bangalore between the local Royal Challenger and the Kolkata Knight Riders, 12.5 million viewers tuned in, giving the broadcast 8.21 ‘Television Rating Points’. By comparison, coverage of last summer's Indian cricket tour of Australia scored 4-6 Television Rating Points.

Meanwhile, in Australia, viewing figures were good, but not exceptional, and were probably impacted by late-night scheduling. After the first match, rating points for IPL coverage dropped to between 4.97 and 5.58. Sunday night's Kolkata and Hyderabad match averaged 360,000 viewers in the four hours from 9.50pm, with a peak audience of 798,000.

A later match on Friday night averaged 204,000. Network Ten is broadcasting the matches in Australia.

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