The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 achieved a staggering milestone with 449 million viewers, as revealed by Viacom18 CEO Anil Jayaraj during the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru. Speaking about the success, Jayaraj highlighted the significant shift towards digital and AI-driven sports broadcasting in India, emphasizing the IPL’s unparalleled scale globally.
Promoting a digital future for sports, Jayaraj acknowledged the groundbreaking 120 million connected TV consumers on Viacom18’s platform, marking a substantial leap in year one. He emphasized the transformative role of technology, especially AI, in reshaping content production and enhancing viewer engagement.
Addressing the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India, Jayaraj delved into the Women’s Premier League’s (WPL) rising interest, praising BCCI’s production quality. He noted the unique demographic appeal of WPL for advertisers and investors, envisioning financial benefits from this investment.
Despite IPL’s success, the overwhelming focus on cricket perpetuates a limited sports culture in India. Diversifying attention to various sports, especially those outside the top 100 programs, remains a challenge that needs addressing for a more inclusive sports landscape.
