2018 FIFA World Cup Final becomes the most viewed international football match ever in India, with over 50 million viewers
Mumbai: The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia has broken viewership barriers with over 250 million viewers tuning in to the tournament in India. The ‘greatest show on earth’ which was telecast live on Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 3 and Sony ESPN channels and live streamed on SonyLIV app & website, garnered over 250 million viewers across 64 matches played until the end of the tournament.
Data report that 64 matches of the tournament (SPN Sports Channels + SonyLIV have been watched by 110.5 million viewers across India on the Sony Pictures Networks India (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches, SPN Sports Network+terrestrial network)
The total cumulative reach for the FIFA World Cup 2018 on Sony network till date is 254 million viewers. (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches+wraparound shows+highlights+repeats+surround programming of FIFA World Cup, SPN Sports Network+terrestrial network, Sony LIV)
The final match between France vs Croatia was watched by 51.2 million viewers – The highest reach for any FIFA World Cup match till date (BARC, All India, CS2+, SPN Sports Network+terrestrial network)
22.2 mn viewers from West Bengal have sampled the live matches, which becomes the top market for the FIFA viewership. Kerala contributes about 17.8 mn viewers, followed by Maharashtra/ Goa markets that amount to 12.8 mn viewers sampling the live matches . 11.4 mn viewers from Assam/North East/Sikkim have sampled the live matches. (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches, SPN Sports Network+terrestrial network)
Local language feeds (Hindi+Malayalam+Bengali+Tamil+Telugu) have been sampled by 70.7 million viewers – 66% of the overall tournament reach (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches with local language feed, SPN Sports Network)
Sony Network’s regional commentary has been well received, with 9.7 million viewers in Kerala sampling Malayalam commentary and 10.7 million viewers in West Bengal sampling Bengali commentary40.7 million viewers across India have sampled our regional commentary feed (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches, Sony ESPN)
Females have contributed to 47% of the tournament reach till date (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches, SPN Sports Network)