Chasing 200+ runs in the first two matches, the opening weekend ipl 2026 Both Star Sports Network and JioHotstar achieved new heights in terms of reach and consumption.
Driven by two high-scoring games, IPL 2026 recorded a combined reach of over 515 million across linear TV and digital. With both games ending with the match winning the match, high viewer engagement resulted in a combined total of 32.6 billion minutes of watch-time, growing by 26% compared to the opening two matches of the previous edition. CTV reach increased by 30% and concurrency increased by 61%, while on linear television, the first two matches of the 2026 edition saw a TVR increase of 24% compared to the previous season.
The highlight of this season is the introduction of differentiated viewing experiences, featuring champions and legends like Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, among others exclusively on the CTV Hindi feed. By combining expert analysis with an engaging watch-along format, the offering brings a new and more comprehensive dimension to the way fans experience live cricket.
Ishan Chatterjee, CEO, Sports, Jiostar, said, “IPL 2026 has launched on record scale with deeper engagement than ever before across all platforms. This reinforces both the unmatched scale of live cricket in India and JioStar’s position as the definitive home of cricket. We are seeing strong growth in reach and engagement, along with clear value and outcomes for all our partners. Live cricket remains the most effective environment to drive real brand outcomes at scale. Engagement “This scale and depth comes from combining the big screen with digital interactivity, thus creating a truly immersive and personalized experience for fans as we continue to push the boundaries of consumer engagement and participant outcomes.”
IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal said,
“The start of the season has been extremely encouraging. The combination of high-quality cricket and enhanced viewing experiences is clearly resonating with fans across the country. The IPL has always been about pushing the boundaries, and it's great to see how the league sets new standards in both playing and fan engagement. Our continued endeavor is to build on this momentum year after year and deliver a tournament that continues to raise the bar on cricket globally. Building on innovation, competitiveness and creating an experience that The focus is on connecting with fans at every level.”
BCCI Honorary Secretary Devjit Saikia said,
“The opening weekend figures are a strong reflection of the deep and enduring connection fans have with the IPL. What is particularly encouraging is not just the scale, but the quality of engagement we are seeing across all platforms. This reinforces our confidence that the IPL is evolving with the expectations of a modern, diverse audience while remaining true to the essence of the game. At BCCI, our endeavor has always been to ensure that the IPL grows in scale, quality and reach with every season. We are committed to making the tournament bigger. “We are committed to betterment and improvement both on the field and in the way fans experience the game.”
The strong start underlines the scale at which fans across the country continue to come together on the JioStar platform to experience the tournament, which promises to be the biggest season yet.
Get every cricket update! Follow us: :
Leave a Reply