Champions Trophy 2025 Sets New Broadcast Records Worldwide

Dubai, May 21 — The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has emerged as the most-watched edition of the tournament to date, smashing previous broadcast records and showcasing the growing global appeal of cricket.

Held across Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, the 2025 Champions Trophy recorded a staggering 368 billion global viewing minutes, marking a 19 percent increase over the 2017 edition hosted in England and Wales. With eight international teams competing, the tournament drew an unprecedented 308 million global viewing minutes per over, the highest ever for any ICC event.

India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, triumphed with an unbeaten run, defeating the reigning ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup champions Australia in a thrilling semi-final before overcoming New Zealand in the final on March 9. The championship match became the most-watched Champions Trophy fixture in history, attracting 65.3 billion live viewing minutes globally — a 52.1 percent surge over the previous final’s record.

This final also ranked as the third-most watched ICC game globally by live watch time, and in India, it ranked third behind the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-final and final, both featuring India.

ICC Chair Jay Shah hailed the success as a reflection of cricket’s expanding global footprint. “We are delighted to share that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has achieved record-breaking global viewership, making it the most-watched edition of the tournament to date,” he said. “These remarkable numbers reflect the growing global appeal of the game and the strength of our partnerships.”

Broadcast records were set not only globally but also in key cricket markets. India’s JioStar network delivered live coverage across 29 unique feeds in nine languages, boosting fan engagement and accessibility. Notably, inclusive innovations such as Indian Sign Language feeds and Audio Descriptive Commentary helped broaden the tournament’s reach, making it the most watched Champions Trophy ever in India.

Australia saw a 65 percent increase in overall viewing hours compared to the previous tournament, aided by the introduction of a Hindi-language feed on Amazon Prime Video, which recorded the highest viewership for any ICC event exclusively streamed on the platform.

Despite Pakistan’s earlier exit compared to their 2017 performance, viewership in the co-host nation rose by 24 percent. Meanwhile, the USA, overcoming less favorable match timings, achieved a 19 percent growth in live viewership compared to 2017.

The Champions Trophy 2025’s broadcast milestones underscore cricket’s growing global popularity and the success of innovative broadcasting strategies designed to reach diverse audiences worldwide.