Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 sets new viewership record in India
What's the story
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has become India's most-watched away Test series on television. Telecasted on the JioStar network, the series saw a whopping 74% increase in viewership over its previous edition in Australia. Despite the time zone difference, this series also became the second most-watched Test series on Indian television (home and away), as per a report in News18.
Viewership details
Border-Gavaskar Trophy garners 192.5 million viewers on TV
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, aka 'The Toughest Rivalry,' drew a staggering 192.5 million viewers on TV. Meanwhile, the combined watch time on TV and digital platforms was an impressive 52 billion minutes. This is particularly impressive considering the difficult match timings due to the time difference between India and Australia.
Broadcast impact
Live broadcast in 5 languages boosts viewership
The live broadcast of the series was available in five languages, which added to its reach and popularity. The series had high-stakes cricket, dramatic performances from both Indian and Australian cricketers, and culture-defining moments. This multi-lingual approach led to a 49% increase in television watch time as compared to the 2020 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Commentary team
Expert commentary enhances viewing experience
The viewing experience was further enhanced by a panel of Indian experts including Cheteshwar Pujara, Irfan Pathan, Sunil Gavaskar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Vijay, and Ravi Shastri. They were joined by Australian voices such as Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, and Matthew Hayden. The commentary team also featured neutral voices like Mark Nicholas and Wasim Akram who added depth to the storytelling approach during the series.
CEO's statement
JioStar CEO comments on 'The toughest rivalry'
Sanjog Gupta, CEO of Sports at Jio Star, spoke about the success and stated, "We are proud to have institutionalized 'The Toughest Rivalry' as a unique descriptor of India-Australia matches." He added the coverage of BGT 2024-25 showed their commitment to delivering world-class on-screen sporting experiences to millions of fans. Gupta also emphasized the network's innovative use of new cameras and design packages for an immersive viewing experience.
Acknowledgment
Cricket Australia CEO acknowledges JioStar's coverage
Meanwhile, Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, thanked their broadcast partners for delivering world-class coverage. He added that the fact that 192.5 million viewers watched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series on Jio Star in India, highlights cricket's ability to attract vast international audiences and keep the global interest in Test cricket alive.