IPL 2021 Viewership – MI vs RCB: Unlike the last edition, the opening match of IPL 2021 between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challenger Bangalore has failed to deliver mega opening numbers for LIVE IPL Broadcast on STAR Sports. According to Week 14th Data released by BARC, the opening match delivered 19.9 Mn (AMA) – which is less than what the opening game between Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings delivered in IPL 2020.
Though these numbers were still enough to make MI-RCB match as No. 1 program of the week. Disney Star Network which is airing IPL 2021 on almost 24 channels in 8 languages has now also decided to air IPL 2021 games on Sunday on their flagship channel Star Plus from 18th April.
IPL 2021 Viewership – MI vs RCB game fails to give bumper opening to IPL 2021 on BARC Charts
The Data released by BARC for the WEEK 14 only covers the 1st match of IPL 2021. IPL 2020 delivered highest ever viewership numbers on BARC Charts – but the same could not be maintained or bettered by the 1st game of IPL 2021.
The official release by Star Sports admits that IPL 2021 opening match has delivered less than IPL 2020 – but according to them it is 42% in comparison to IPL 2019. Star India official release says that IPL 2021 on the entire Star Network has clocked 323 million total impressions for the opening match of VIVO IPL
“We are confident that viewers’ interest will continue to grow as the tournament progresses. We are committed to delivering an immersive experience that takes fans confined at home closer to the action. We also urge everyone to stay home as much as possible, take all precautions and be safe during these difficult times,” said a Star Sports spokesperson.
Not only on Television but InsideSport.co had earlier reported that IPL 2021 LIVE Streaming numbers for the opening match has also fallen on Disney+ Hotstar.
IPL 2021 Live Streaming – Weak opening for IPL 2021 on Disney+ Hotstar: IPL’s LIVE Streaming viewership numbers on Disney+ Hotstar has also not opened on a great note. The opening match between Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) recorded a peak concurrent viewership of 6.7 Mn fans. This in comparison to the opening match of IPL 2020 is less by 25%.
The opening match of IPL 2020 between CSK vs MI delivered 8.4 Million concurrent users and in comparison IPL 2021 opener has only delivered peak concurrent viewership of 6.7 Million fans.
IPL 2021 Live Streaming: Concurrent Viewership numbers on Disney+ Hotstar also seeing drop
- IPL 2021 opening game between MI vs RCB recorded a peak concurrent viewership of 6.7 Mn fans
- IPL 2020 opening match between MI vs CSK delivered 8.4 Mn concurrent users
- Even the second match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and CSK could not raise the bar and saw a high of just 6.5 Million users. By the time match reached its climax concurrent users further dropped to 5 Million range.
- In 2019, the IPL had made new viewership records on Hotstar (now Disney+Hotstar). During the 12th edition, the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians registered a concurrency of 12.7 million viewers, which was later broken by the final. IPL season 12’s final match saw as many as 18 million viewers tuning into Disney+Hotstar. The biggest reason for the drop is that now Hotstar does allow 5 Mins of free streaming and one has to subsrcibe to the service to watch LIVE Streaming of IPL.
