Australia’s fairytale victory last night against India in the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup Final has achieved record ratings for Foxtel with preliminary figures showing an average 405,646 viewers watched the match.
The outstanding figure makes it subscription television’s most-watched women’s sports event in history, the sixth most-watched cricket match of all time (men and women) and the number one show so far in 2020.
In addition to the subscription audience, the match was also watched by a national audience of 825k (531k metro) on 9GEM. Meaning the total combined national audience for the game was 1.231 million.
Australia won the match by a massive 85 runs before 86,175 fans at the MCG with interest in the final, staged on International Women’s Day, lighting up television screens across the country.
The first session averaged 360,779 on pay-tv watching Australian openers Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney smash a 150-run partnership as the Aussies posted an impressive 184 total, before an average 451,043 tuned into the second session as Australia bowled out India for 99 to win the tournament for a record fifth time.
Foxtel’s coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup Final was aired simultaneously on FOX CRICKET and FOXW (Channel 507), a special week-long pop-up channel launched to celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) putting a spotlight on women’s sport.
The preliminary figures include live broadcast and video player measurement (VPM) numbers. The numbers are expected to increase over the week with on-demand and delayed viewing. The numbers specifically do not include viewing on Kayo Sports.
“The Australian women’s cricket team has captured the imagination of the country including our Foxtel viewers with their magnificent victory on home soil before a record crowd at the MCG,”
Head of FOX SPORTS, Peter Campbell, said.
“Last night’s match averaged 405,000 across FOX CRICKET and FOXW making it the most-watched women’s sports event ever on Foxtel, our sixth highest rating cricket match ever, men or women, and the number one program to date in 2020 – it is a fabulous result and especially for women’s sport in this country.
“On behalf of everyone at Foxtel we congratulate the Australian team on their victory and fifth World Cup title.”
