Photo Credit: Cricket Australia
Fans of the Weber WBBL have watched, attended and engaged in record numbers to celebrate the competition’s milestone tenth season.
The first year of a revised 40-game home and away season schedule has delivered growth across all key fan indicators, reflecting the world class cricket on display.
Viewership
The WBBL has strengthened its position as Australia’s most-watched sporting league in its window during the home and away season.
Average WBBL audiences have grown 46% year-on-year across TV and streaming, with more fans have tuning in to WBBL|10 across 40 games than during last year’s the 56-game WBBL|09 campaign across Seven, Foxtel, 7plus and Kayo Sports.
Sunday’s final regular season game between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers was the highest rating WBBL home and away game in three years.
This growth has been driven by a greater proportion of primetime matches, the optimised placement of key matches around international cricket and world class cricket, including a new record individual score of 150 not out by Lizelle Lee.
For the first time, Sunday’s WBBL|10 Final between the Melbourne Renegades and winner of The Challenger will be available to BINGE subscribers. It will also be the first WBBL Final aired on 7plus.
Attendance
Average home and away attendances have grown 23% this season to 1,755 per match, a record for competition’s standalone era in WBBL|05 and beyond.
The total attendance of 70,214 across 40 games is equivalent to the attendance through 54 games in WBBL|09.
Every club saw increased average attendances at their home matches. Highlights included the addition of the Gabba to the Stadium Series, and a record WBBL crowd of 3701 for the Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground.
Digital engagement
WBBL social media consumption has increased 56% through WBBL|10, along with a 55% increase in engagement and over 80,000 new followers since the start of the tournament.
The Big Bash app has provided fans a new digital experience to follow matches, highlights and behind the scenes content for the first time in WBBL|10. The app features prominently in both the Apple and Google Play store sports charts.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, said:
“The WBBL continues to reinforce its status as the world’s best cricket league for women and that is backed up by the viewership, attendance and engagement of our fan base.
“A 46% increase in average audiences per game across Seven, Foxtel, 7plus and Kayo Sports, alongside 23% growth in average attendance, demonstrates both the passion of our core fan base and the League’s mass appeal to wide national audiences.
“This has been supported by our expanding digital presence across social media platforms and the Big Bash app, which house a significant stream of engaging content from our world class competition.”
Weber WBBL|10 Finals
Two matches in the Weber WBBL|10 Finals series remain. Both matches are available on Seven, Foxtel, 7plus and Kayo Sports, with The Final also be available on BINGE for the first time. ABC Sport and SEN will provide radio coverage.
The Challenger: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder, Friday, November 29, 7:15pm AEDT/6:15pm AEST, Allan Border Field
The Final: Melbourne Renegades v winner of The Challenger, Sunday, December 1, 1:20pm AEDT, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Tickets are available at www.bigbash.com.au.
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Name of Author: Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia (CA), formerly the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), is the governing body for cricket in Australia. Established in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket, CA manages all national teams, including Men’s, Women’s, and Youth sides, as well as other national teams. It oversees the organization of Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is, and coordinates home international fixtures.
