CT 2025 sets new broadcast records with 368bn global viewing minutes

IANS May 21, 2025 360 views

The ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 has set unprecedented global viewership records, achieving 368 billion viewing minutes worldwide. India's triumphant victory over New Zealand in the final became the most-watched Champions Trophy match in history, drawing 65.3 billion live viewing minutes. Broadcast innovations, including multi-language feeds and expanded digital platforms, contributed significantly to the tournament's massive global appeal. The event demonstrates cricket's growing international popularity and the strategic efforts of broadcasters to engage diverse audiences.

"These milestones are a testament to the game's expanding footprint" - Jay Shah, ICC Chairman
CT 2025 sets new broadcast records with 368bn global viewing minutes
Dubai, May 21: The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from February 19 to March 9, was the most viewed Champions Trophy ever, recording a growth over the 2017 edition, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday unveiled the staggering broadcast viewership figures noted across the globe.

Key Points

1

Record 19% viewership surge from previous tournament

2

India-New Zealand final drew 65.3 billion live minutes

3

Global broadcast coverage expanded across multiple languages

4

Unique broadcast feeds increased fan engagement

The 2025 edition of the tournament saw 368 billion global viewing minutes across global coverage, a remarkable 19 percent increase from the previous tournament held in England and Wales in 2017. The event became the most watched ICC Men’s Champions Trophy ever. Moreover, it also drew 308 million global viewing minutes per over, the most ever for an ICC event.

A blockbuster final in Dubai saw India claim the iconic white jackets, and their victory over New Zealand on March 9 became the most watched Champions Trophy match ever, with 65.3 billion live viewing minutes globally, shattering the record set during the 2017 final by 52.1 percent, the ICC said in a release.

The thrilling finale also takes third spot in the most watched ICC matches of all time globally by live watch time, while in India itself, the fixture represents the third most watched ICC match ever, only surpassed by the India vs New Zealand semi-final at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, and the final of that same event between India and Australia.

The tournament became the most watched Champions Trophy ever in Australia too, with overall viewing hours up by 65 percent from 2017. With enhanced coverage featuring the introduction of a Hindi language feed, Amazon Prime Video witnessed the highest viewership of any ICC event shown exclusively on the platform.

Despite the hosts Pakistan falling short in their pursuit of back-to-back Champions Trophy success, viewing hours for the 2025 event in Pakistan rose by 24 percent versus figures accumulated during their 2017 trophy-winning campaign.

"We are delighted to share that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has achieved record-breaking global viewership, making it the most-watched edition of the tournament to date. These remarkable numbers reflect the growing global appeal of the game and the strength of our partnerships.

“We are especially grateful for the continued innovation and investment by the JioStar network in India, which delivered live coverage across 29 unique broadcast feeds in nine languages, an effort that played a significant role in reaching new audiences and deepening fan engagement.

“It’s also heartening to witness exceptional growth in markets such as Australia, where Amazon Prime Video recorded a 65% increase in viewership compared to the 2017 edition, and in the United States, where Willow TV saw a notable rise in audience figures despite challenging start times.

“These milestones are a testament to the game’s expanding footprint and the passion of cricket fans worldwide," Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, said.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What a tournament! 🇮🇳 So proud of our boys bringing home the trophy. The final was absolutely nail-biting - I lost my voice cheering! These numbers prove cricket is more than just a sport in our country, it's an emotion. Hope BCCI considers more matches in Dubai, the atmosphere was electric!
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Priya M.
While the numbers are impressive, I wish ICC would focus more on women's cricket too. The Women's Premier League gets just a fraction of this viewership. Equal pay, equal coverage should be the goal. That said, congrats Team India! 💙
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Amit S.
The Hindi commentary feed was a game-changer! My grandfather could finally enjoy cricket without struggling with English. More regional language options please - especially Tamil and Bengali which have massive cricket fanbases.
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Sanjay V.
Interesting to see Pakistan's viewership increase despite their early exit. Shows how cricket bridges divides. Though I do wish political tensions wouldn't affect sports - it's sad we can't have India-Pak matches more often. The 2023 World Cup clash was epic!
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Neha T.
The streaming numbers on Amazon Prime show how digital is the future! No more waiting for TV broadcasts - we watched the final on mobile during our train journey. Jio's 9-language coverage deserves applause too. Digital India meets Cricket India! 📱🏏
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Vikram J.
While celebrating these records, we must ask - why is ICC still hosting events in UAE instead of cricket-crazy nations? The empty stands in Dubai were embarrassing. Give tournaments to countries where fans will fill stadiums - India, England, Australia should be priorities.

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