MUMBAI: The VIVO Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) hasn’t got off to the best of starts in terms of viewership in its first 24 matches this season. According to BARC India’s report, in 2017, 344.7 million people in the country tuned into the Star TV Network to watch the matches, as compared to 237.2 million people this year, a massive drop of 107.5 million.
Besides, engagement with fans in rural areas has also reduced this season with 175 million people above the age of two which constitutes 74% of the 2018 viewership numbers vis-à -vis a 76% rate with 261.5 million people in 2017. Although in the urban areas, 62.1 million tuned in this year as compared to 83.1 million in 2017, people’s involvement increased from 24% to 26%.
BARC states that a key reason for poor PKL numbers this season on a whole is the start date of Season 6 which coincided with festivals such as Navratri and Dussehra. Apart from this, it is Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which have proven to be the highest contributing markets for PKL viewership in India, due to which the numbers have dropped.
In 2017, the first leg of the season was in Hyderabad which saw the home team Telugu Titans play six out of the first 12 games. This year, the first leg was in Chennai which saw home team Tamil Thalaivas played only one of the first 12 games.
However, with Vishakhapatnam set to be the Titans’ home ground this season in December and the PKL will be coming to Mumbai from 9-15 November, could play a huge factor in TV ratings getting a much needed boost.
