Highlights
- Disney+ Hotstar records over 5 crore viewers during India vs New Zealand semi-final.
- Peak viewership surpasses previous record set in an earlier World Cup 2023 match.
- India’s strong performance, including centuries from Kohli and Iyer, boosts viewership.
- Introduction of MaxView for vertical streaming enhances user experience.
During the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand, Disney+ Hotstar achieved a historic viewership milestone.
The match, held at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, attracted over 5 crore viewers, setting a new record for the streaming service.
India’s Performance Boosts Viewership
The surge in viewership numbers coincided with India’s strong performance in the match. Batting first, the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma and followed by Virat Kohli’s century, set a formidable total of 397 runs.
Shreyas Iyer’s rapid 105 off 70 balls further heightened viewer interest, pushing the numbers beyond the 5 crore mark.
Previous Records and Technological Innovations
Before this, the highest peak concurrency number on Disney+ Hotstar was 4.3 crore during a World Cup match between India and New Zealand earlier in the tournament.
This surpassed the platform’s previous record of 3.5 crore viewers during an India vs Pakistan match.
Disney+ Hotstar, in partnership with ICC, introduced MaxView, a new feature enabling users to watch cricket in a vertical (9X14 portrait) view, enhancing the one-handed viewing experience.
Accessibility and Future Events
Following the success of the Asia Cup 2023 and the ongoing Cricket World Cup, Disney+ Hotstar announced that the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 will be accessible to all mobile users without a subscription, continuing their trend of making major sporting events widely available to viewers.
FAQs
How many viewers did Disney+ Hotstar attract during the India vs New Zealand semi-final?
Disney+ Hotstar achieved a record-breaking viewership of over 5 crore during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand.
What contributed to the surge in viewership for this match?
The surge in viewership was largely due to India’s impressive batting, including centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, which captivated the audience and propelled the viewership numbers to a new high.
What previous viewership record did this match surpass?
This match surpassed the previous record of 4.3 crore viewers, set during another World Cup 2023 match between India and New Zealand earlier in the tournament.