The 2021 cricket season breaks ratings records for Foxtel

The current cricket season on Foxtel platforms is breaking records, with the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) leading the way with a growth of 123% in streaming audiences.  

Ratings released by Foxtel Media demonstrate a linear audience growth of 77% YoY, placing the CommBank sponsored series at the #1 spot for highest ratings for a WBBL season to date on Foxtel platforms. The Final between Perth Scorchers and the Adelaide Strikers is the second highest rating game of all-time with 130,000 viewers tuning in to watch the Scorchers claim their maiden WBBL title.

The third match between Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers took the crown for the highest rating regular season game of all time with 89,000 viewers having watched in eager anticipation. 

Matches and tournaments across Foxtel platforms have been buoyed by new and returning sponsors including Adventure Kings, Ladbrokes, Harvey Norman, McDonalds, Canadian Club, Toyota, Chemist Warehouse, Sonos, Alinta Energy, and SIXT. 

The Men’s Big Bash League’s season comes in as the second highest rating season ever, just behind the inaugural 2011/12 season. The season averaged 266,000 across linear and streaming; which represents a 29% YoY increase in audience. The final match between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorches was the top game of the season, with the Sixers taking the win. 

The 2021 T20 World Cup is the highest rating T20 World Cup all-time with 45 matches being played and averaged 90,000 viewers. Australia’s victory against the West Indies became the most watched T20 World Cup game of all-time with an audience of 386,000. 

Martin Medcraf, Foxtel Media sport sales and partnerships director said, “What an amazing time for cricket on our platforms- and the season is not even over! I’m particularly proud of the WBBL and the amazing sporting prowess of these female athletes and audiences seem to agree. Eyeballs are on women’s sports and brands would be savvy in catching up to this trend.

“And while Australia may be winding down for year, we still have plenty of cricket action in store. The Poms are here and will be bowling they very first ball of The Ashes on 8th December at The Gabba. Huge international tours from New Zealand and Sri Lanka also await us in early 2022.”