Massive viewership numbers and increased year-on-year attendances have paved the way for a blockbuster start to KFC BBL|15, while a thrilling Weber WBBL|11 season drew more viewers per game than ever before.
Highlights:
• Average audience per match up 18% YoY through the opening eight KFC BBL|15 games and the highest since BBL|10*
• The biggest total attendance for opening eight matches since BBL|07
• Weber WBBL|11 had the highest average audience per game since all matches began being broadcast (128,000)
• Big Bash App has consistently held the #1 spot among sports apps in Australia on both the Apple App Store and Google Play store
The opening eight matches of the BBL|15 season were watched by an average audience of 764k viewers per game, an increase of 18% on BBL|14 and the highest since BBL|10*.
Simulcast matches (broadcast on Seven, 7plus, Foxtel and Kayo Sports) drew average audiences of 912k per game in that period.
The highest rated match of the opening week was between the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes, which held an average audience of 1.01m and is the fourth highest of pre-Christmas matches since the start of BBL|09 and the highest outside of a season opener in that time.
The record-shattering match between the Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers on December 19 was the most streamed BBL regular season game in Foxtel Group history, with BBL|15 tracking to be its most watched season ever.
Seven has seen exceptional growth in digital streaming audiences, with 7plus breaking BBL streaming records on four out of eight nights and a year-on-year increase of more than 130%.
The cumulative attendances of 137,607 across the opening eight matches is the highest since BBL|07 and sets the tone for huge marquee matches through the peak of the school holidays.
The interim BBL|15 numbers follow strong growth across WBBL|11, which saw an average audience of 128,000 people tune in to each game, up 22% on WBBL|10.
A thrilling WBBL finals series drew a cumulative average audience of one million people across the three finals, culminating in a maiden Hobart Hurricanes title in front of a record women’s sporting event crowd in Tasmania.
Digital growth continues to soar, with league social media channels gaining more than 500,000 new followers and achieving record reach and engagement numbers across digital content.
*Figures from the match between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers have been omitted from average audience calculations given the national breaking news coverage of the Bondi terrorist attack on Sunday, December 14.
Alistair Dobson, Executive General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:
“It has been a blockbuster start to BBL|15 with thrilling nightly contests being played in front of growing audiences at stadiums and via broadcast.
“Over the past week we’ve seen the power cricket has to bring people together to reflect and also celebrate everything that’s good about our country.
“Attending Big Bash games is a summer ritual for many Australian families and our matches continue to foster family-friendly, inclusive and safe environments.
“The WBBL continues to reinforce its status as the world’s best cricket league for women, culminating in a maiden WBBL title for the Hurricanes in front of the largest crowd ever for a live women’s sporting event in Tasmania.
“The buzz around the Big Bash is as high as it’s ever been and we’re seeing that through viewership, attendance and engagement of our fan base.”
