IPL viewership takes a 35% hit as top franchises fail to perform

The Indian Premier League (IPL) viewership has taken a significant hit as the ongoing 2022 edition of the tournament is still ongoing. The viewership has gone down by 35 percent, according to a report by Financial Express.

According to India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the TV viewership of IPL 2022's first week also saw a decline whereas the TVR of the first eight matches was 2.52 compared to last season's 3.75.

Responding to the significant drop in viewership, a BCCI official said that it is due to the top franchises underperforming as they make up the largest fanbases.

"Let me admit, there is a dip in IPL viewership. But it is not due to cricket fatigue or anything as projected by the media. It is actually due to a dip in form for teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Between them, they have 9 IPL Titles, and they are very popular. As these teams are not doing well, it has affected the TV Ratings," admitted the BCCI official.

The IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel also publicly addressed the situation and said that the numbers are "not alarming."

"There is a slight dip in viewership, but the numbers are not alarming. I don’t see them having any impact on the media rights sale," Patel was quoted in media. "We also believe a lot of people are now watching the games at restaurants, pubs and clubs. What we see is one connection and hundreds of people watching."

The narrative does hold weight as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings contributed to 41 percent of total viewership last season, according to InsideSport internal analysis for IPL 2021 data.

Their results further showed that 7 of the top 10 most-watched matches last season involved one of these 3 IPL teams; Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.