The ninth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has reached viewership of 297 million in its third week itself. Sony Max, Sony Six and Sony ESPN part of Sony Pictures Networks India the official broadcasters of the cash-rich domestic Twenty20 tournament, drew audiences in large numbers in the third week of the T20 cricket tournament after 25 matches.
IPL with 927.4 GVM is 234 per cent better than the second most viewed channel in prime time at an all-India level, and with 676.2 GVM is 203 percent better than the second most viewed channel in HSM. Markets that grew in the third week are Mumbai, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
The IPL began on April 9 and will go on till May 29, with the final being played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The final was scheduled to be played at Wankhede, Mumbai but has been shifted out of there due to the orders of the Bombay High Court asking all IPL 2016 matches be played outside Maharashtra after May 1 due to the state facing severe drought issues.
The IPL this year has also seen two new teams: Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions. They have replaced Chennai Superkings and Rajasthan Royals, who have been banned for a couple of years.
