The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and New Zealand, which took place on October 22, witnessed a remarkable milestone in the world of streaming entertainment. Disney+ Hotstar, the popular streaming platform, achieved an unprecedented record in collective viewership during this thrilling encounter. The platform registered a staggering peak concurrency of 4.3 crore viewers, thereby surpassing its own previous record of 3.5 crore viewers, which was established during the India versus Pakistan match in the same tournament.
This new milestone underscores the exceptional popularity of both cricket as a sport and the Disney+ Hotstar streaming platform in India. The sheer magnitude of viewership demonstrates the profound connection that cricket enjoys with its fans and viewers across the country.
It is worth noting that the intensely contested match between India and New Zealand also exceeded the previous concurrency record of 2.5 crore viewers. This milestone was achieved during their clash in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-finals, highlighting the growing enthusiasm and engagement of viewers with cricket events on Disney+ Hotstar.
Sajith Sivanandan, the Head of Disney+ Hotstar India, expressed immense gratitude to the platform's users for their overwhelming response and participation. He acknowledged the role of users in setting a new global benchmark for concurrent viewership during live-streaming events. Mr. Sivanandan emphasized that as the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 enters its pivotal phase, Disney+ Hotstar remains committed to bringing these unforgettable moments to the screens of its valued users.
In the historic match that led to this record-breaking viewership, the Indian cricket team continued to impress with a victory over New Zealand by a margin of four wickets. This triumph was particularly noteworthy as it marked India's first World Cup victory against New Zealand since 2003. The excitement of such cricketing achievements is now further magnified by the exceptional viewership figures witnessed on Disney+ Hotstar during this iconic event.
