Cricket World Cup 2015 draws 1.5BN TV viewers
DetailsRebecca Hawkes | 01 July 2015
Around 1.5 billion people tuned in around the world to watch television coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, hosted by Australia and New Zealand in February and March this year.
"The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 was the most popular ever played," said ICC chief executive David Richardson. "The venues were world-class, the host cities were world-class and the two countries delivered a world-class tournament which was watched by more people around the world than ever before."
The ICC licensed 44 broadcasters for the event in seven languages across 220 territories. The India vs. Pakistan group match drew a television audience of more than 288 million in India alone, while the match between Australia and England was watched in Australia by 2.1 million viewers.
Prior to the final, the ICC website attracted 26.25 million visitors, while the tournament app had been downloaded 3.6 million times, making it the number-one sports app in 48 countries.
The tournament generated more than A$1.1 billion in direct spending, created the equivalent of 8,320 full time jobs and had a total of two million bed nights across the two countries, according to the findings of an economic impact and benefits analysis carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
John Harnden, CEO, Cricket World Cup 2015 added: "When you consider the TV audience of over 1.5 billion, saturation of coverage across all digital platforms and the mainstream media coverage of the event across the 14 host cities, the Cricket World Cup has not only showcased the best of Australia and New Zealand but has enhanced the tournament's reputation as a major global driver for economic and community benefit."