FIFA World Cup 2018 Final viewership over 50 million in India

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.

Key Viewership Highlights for 64 matches of the tournament (SPN Sports Channels + Sony LIV)

• The total cumulative reach for the FIFA World Cup 2018 on our 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 64 LIVE matches of the FIFA WC 2018 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)
• Top reach markets for LIVE matches (BARC, All India, CS2+, LIVE matches, SPN Sports Network+terrestrial network)

o   West Bengal – 22.2 mn

o   Kerala – 17.8 mn

o   Maharashtra /Goa – 12.8 mn

o   Assam/North East/Sikkim – 11.4 mn

• 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)
• 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)
• Our 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 commentary
• 40.7 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)

Comments: 

Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer - Distribution & Head - Sports, Sony Pictures Networks India:

We are extremely excited by the success of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia with the viewership meeting all our expectations. This definitely reflects the passion the sport is seeing in India and Sony Pictures Networks India is proud to be associated with this tournament and to have provided viewers unparalleled viewing experiences through unique and innovative ideas and initiatives."

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