IPL 2023 on TV loses its sheen: Opening match sees sharp drop in ratings

The Indian Premier League (IPL), once the undisputed king of sports entertainment, seems to be losing its grip on the television audience. In a shocking development, the opening match of the highly anticipated Tata IPL 2023 witnessed a sharp decline in ratings, reach, and engagement, according to BARC data. This is the second consecutive year that the IPL has failed to live up to its hype, leaving its organizers and sponsors in a state of panic, as per a report by CNBC-TV18.

Despite claims by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Tata IPL 2023, of a massive surge in viewership during the build-up programming, the actual numbers tell a different story. The opening match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans, which was expected to be a blockbuster, failed to capture the imagination of the audience, with a paltry 22% [BARC, 2+ (Urban + Rural)] reach recorded by BARC. This is a significant drop from the previous two editions of the IPL, where the reach was recorded at 23.1% and 18.3%, respectively.

In terms of engagement, the opening match of Tata IPL 2023 managed to garner a measly 33%, the second-lowest in the last six seasons. This is a major cause for concern for the organizers, as it indicates a lack of interest and involvement from the audience.

Even the inclusion of Out of Home (OOH) and Free to Air (FTA) channel (Star Utsav Movies) could not save the day for the IPL, as the opening match recorded a TVR of 7.29, the second-lowest in the last six seasons [BARC, M15+ AB India Urban]. This is a far cry from the glory days of the IPL, where it used to dominate the TRP charts and command premium ad rates.

The IPL's decline on TV is a worrying sign for its stakeholders, who have invested heavily in the tournament. Unless corrective measures are taken, the IPL could soon lose its position as the most-watched sports league in the country. The question now is, can the IPL bounce back from this setback, or is it the beginning of the end for this once-mighty franchise? Only time will tell.