URC Broadcast Record Broken Again

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   A viewership of over 37 million watched the Vodacom United Rugby Championship during the 2022/23 season which broke another broadcast record
thanks to an 8% rise in audience figures.

Twelve months on from announcing a previous record of over
34.6million, the Vodacom URC can now report that a cumulative total of 37.4million
tuned in to watch the drama unfold from across Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South
Africa and Wales.

The figure also includes five rounds where the audience was
over 2 million and 12 rounds were the audience climbed beyond 1.5million. In
addition, five of the top 10 most-viewed games of the regular season saw
audiences rise above half a million with DHL Stormers v Munster from Round 17
closing in on almost 700,000 viewers.

The Vodacom URC Play-Offs had over 4 million viewers with Leinster
and Munster’s meeting in the Semi-Finals drawing 856,599 viewers to set the
highest average audience of the entire season. The Grand Final itself between
DHL Stormers and Munster also recorded a higher peak audience with over 1
million watching. 

Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: “It
has been a record-setting year for the Vodacom URC in terms of attendances and now to
set a new bar for TV audiences is a testament to new levels of interest that
surround our league.

“We’ve worked hard to establish the Vodacom URC as the rising
force in the rugby industry. Having recently broken beyond 1 million social
media followers we can see that fans are responding to what we have created by
going to stadiums, watching at home and engaging through their favourite
digital media platforms.

“On the pitch we have seen the new format deliver more
jeopardy and surprise results. The mix of playing styles and cultures within
the league is providing an appeal that is very unique in rugby. This type of
growth in audiences and attendances do not happen without our broadcast
partners and teams playing their part and they all deserve great credit for
this achievement.”

Breaking down the record-setting audiences in 2022/23

Total Season Audience: 37.4million (+8%)
Season Average: 247,682 per game

Regular season total: 33.3million (+8%)
Regular Season Average: 231,250 per game

Total Play-Off Audience: 4.02million (up on 3.8million
+5%)
Play-Off Average: 575,000 per game

Most Watched Teams
Munster
Cell C Sharks
Vodacom Bulls
DHL Stormers
Connacht

10 of the 16 Vodacom URC clubs have seen season-on-season growth
in their audiences

Top 10 Most Watched Matches in Regular Season

DHL Stormers v Munster                       688,903
Connacht v Cell C Sharks                      584,765
Ulster v DHL Stormers                           543,964
Emirates Lions v Leinster                       503,228
Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers               501,618
Ulster v Vodacom Bulls                          495,527
Cell C Sharks v Ospreys                        493,776
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls             490,829
Leinster v Munster                                  456,559
Vodacom Bulls v Cardiff                          448,654

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Transvaal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 30-Mar-2016 Status: Offline Points: 39116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Transvaal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: URC Broadcast Record Broken Again Posted: 10-Jul-2023 at 3:05pm
	A viewership of over 37 million watched the Vodacom United Rugby Championship during the 2022/23 season which broke another broadcast record thanks to an 8% rise in audience figures. Twelve months on from announcing a previous record of over 34.6million, the Vodacom URC can now report that a cumulative total of 37.4million tuned in to watch the drama unfold from across Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. The figure also includes five rounds where the audience was over 2 million and 12 rounds were the audience climbed beyond 1.5million. In addition, five of the top 10 most-viewed games of the regular season saw audiences rise above half a million with DHL Stormers v Munster from Round 17 closing in on almost 700,000 viewers. The Vodacom URC Play-Offs had over 4 million viewers with Leinster and Munster’s meeting in the Semi-Finals drawing 856,599 viewers to set the highest average audience of the entire season. The Grand Final itself between DHL Stormers and Munster also recorded a higher peak audience with over 1 million watching. Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: “It has been a record-setting year for the Vodacom URC in terms of attendances and now to set a new bar for TV audiences is a testament to new levels of interest that surround our league. “We’ve worked hard to establish the Vodacom URC as the rising force in the rugby industry. Having recently broken beyond 1 million social media followers we can see that fans are responding to what we have created by going to stadiums, watching at home and engaging through their favourite digital media platforms. “On the pitch we have seen the new format deliver more jeopardy and surprise results. The mix of playing styles and cultures within the league is providing an appeal that is very unique in rugby. This type of growth in audiences and attendances do not happen without our broadcast partners and teams playing their part and they all deserve great credit for this achievement.” Breaking down the record-setting audiences in 2022/23 Total Season Audience: 37.4million (+8%) Season Average: 247,682 per game Regular season total: 33.3million (+8%) Regular Season Average: 231,250 per game Total Play-Off Audience: 4.02million (up on 3.8million +5%) Play-Off Average: 575,000 per game Most Watched Teams Munster Cell C Sharks Vodacom Bulls DHL Stormers Connacht 10 of the 16 Vodacom URC clubs have seen season-on-season growth in their audiences Top 10 Most Watched Matches in Regular Season DHL Stormers v Munster 688,903 Connacht v Cell C Sharks 584,765 Ulster v DHL Stormers 543,964 Emirates Lions v Leinster 503,228 Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers 501,618 Ulster v Vodacom Bulls 495,527 Cell C Sharks v Ospreys 493,776 DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls 490,829 Leinster v Munster 456,559 Vodacom Bulls v Cardiff 448,654