{"id":12645,"date":"2026-05-04T14:58:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T09:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/400-million-viewers-globally-how-ilt20-is-building-t20-crickets-next-big-media-property-cricket-news\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T14:58:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T09:28:59","slug":"400-million-viewers-globally-how-ilt20-is-building-t20-crickets-next-big-media-property-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/400-million-viewers-globally-how-ilt20-is-building-t20-crickets-next-big-media-property-cricket-news\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;400 million viewers globally&#8217;: How ILT20 is building T20 cricket\u2019s next big media property | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130775691,imgsize-31684,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/ilt20.jpg\" alt=\"'400 million viewers globally': How ILT20 is building T20 cricket\u2019s next big media property\" title=\"File photo of the ILT20 Trophy.\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"File photo of the ILT20 Trophy.\">File photo of the ILT20 Trophy.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The International League T20 (ILT20) continues to position itself as one of the most compelling T20 properties, with Season 4 delivering significant gains in global reach and commercial maturity.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>Speaking on the league\u2019s growth, <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/ishan-chopra\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">Ishan Chopra<\/a>, Head of Partnerships \u2013 ILT20 &amp; Commercial Head at the Emirates Cricket Board, outlined how the tournament has scaled rapidly across both linear and digital platforms.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"wLCOS vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"ap_Bf\">\n<div class=\"ZM4zO\">\n<p><i class=\"bo2C4\"\/> <span>Watch<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <!-- -->Sam Curran press conference: Sam hails Desert Vipers\u2019 consistency after historic ILT20 title win<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">A 400 million audience and multi-market reach<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>From a sports business standpoint, the ILT20\u2019s claim as the second-most watched T20 league globally is rooted in both scale and distribution efficiency.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>&#8220;In Season 4, we delivered close to 400 million viewers across Linear and OTT globally, which I believe puts us firmly in the top tier of cricket properties outside the IPL ecosystem,\u201d said Chopra in queries shared by TimesofIndia.com.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>India remains the primary consumption market, contributing over 250 million viewers. However, the league\u2019s differentiator lies in its simultaneous reach across multiple regions.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Desert Vipers\" msid=\"130775744\" width=\"\" title=\"Desert Vipers defeated MI Emirates by 46 runs to win ILT20 season 4 (ILT20)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130775744\/desert-vipers.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Desert Vipers defeated MI Emirates by 46 runs to win ILT20 season 4 (ILT20)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>\u201cWe\u2019re simultaneously reaching audiences in the UK, US, Pakistan and the larger MENA region within the same broadcast window,\u201d he explained.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>This hybrid distribution model &#8212; combining strong linear penetration with rapidly growing OTT consumption &#8212; has enabled ILT20 to evolve into a globally distributed media property rather than just a regional tournament.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Partnerships beyond visibility<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>For Chopra, the true indicator of a league\u2019s health lies in its partnerships \u2014 and ILT20\u2019s ecosystem appears to be maturing.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen some strong retention across our key partners. And more importantly, we\u2019re seeing partners that actually deepen their engagement with the league year on year.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/>Brands are no longer treating the league as a visibility platform alone. Instead, they are integrating campaigns, creating digital content, and using ILT20 to drive measurable business outcomes.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Desert Vipers\" msid=\"130775766\" width=\"\" title=\"Desert Vipers won the fourth season of the ILT20 title\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130775766\/desert-vipers.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Desert Vipers won the fourth season of the ILT20 title<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>\u201cThey\u2019re not just coming in for visibility anymore. They\u2019re building campaigns, creating content on digital and really using the ILT20 as a platform to drive business outcomes.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/>While the league is still in its growth phase, its foundations remain strong \u2014 driven by a global player pool, prime-time accessibility across markets, and a robust broadcast ecosystem.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/>\u201cWe were across all sports channels\u2026 and now we focused on evolving partnerships, basically from traditional sponsorships to a more integrated collaboration.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"43\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Compelling business case for brands<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/>ILT20\u2019s core proposition lies in its ability to deliver a global audience within a highly efficient broadcast window \u2014 leveraging the UAE\u2019s strategic time zone.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/>\u201cBecause of the UAE\u2019s time zone we are able to tap into India, the UK, the Middle East and even parts of the US\u2026 in a single broadcast cycle,\u201d said Chopra.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"49\"\/>For brands, this creates a rare opportunity to access multiple key markets simultaneously.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ILT20-Saudi-Arabia\" msid=\"130775911\" width=\"\" title=\"Six players from Saudi Arabia were included in the fourth season of the ILT20. (Image: ILT20)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130775911\/ilt20-saudi-arabia.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Six players from Saudi Arabia were included in the fourth season of the ILT20. (Image: ILT20)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/>From an investment standpoint, Chopra highlighted the advantage of entering during the league\u2019s growth phase: \u201cPartners that are coming in right now are at a point where they can actually build equity with the property rather than just buy inventory.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"56\"\/>The league\u2019s structured ecosystem\u2014spanning central partnerships, franchise opportunities, and digital integrations \u2014 also allows brands to engage at multiple levels.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Season 5 and beyond<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"61\"\/>Looking ahead to Season 5 in December, ILT20\u2019s roadmap is clear \u2014 deepen engagement, expand globally, and build long-term value.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"63\"\/>\u201cWe want to deepen fan engagement especially on digital. We want to expand our international footprint further and get in more broadcast partners.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"65\"\/>\u201cWe\u2019d like to create more bespoke partner-led IPs within the league\u2026 which we can already see happening in the previous seasons.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"68\"\/>Ultimately, the focus is not just on scaling numbers but on building a sustainable, premium sports property.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"70\"\/>\u201cIt\u2019s not just about growing numbers, it\u2019s also about building a sustainable premium sports property that delivers consistent value to all stakeholders,\u201d he stated.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"72\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/cricket\/news\/400-million-viewers-globally-how-ilt20-is-building-t20-crickets-next-big-media-property\/articleshow\/130775657.cms\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>File photo of the ILT20 Trophy. The International League T20 (ILT20) continues to position itself as one of the most compelling T20 properties, with Season 4 delivering significant gains in global reach and commercial maturity.Speaking on the league\u2019s growth, Ishan Chopra, Head of Partnerships \u2013 ILT20 &amp; Commercial Head at the Emirates Cricket Board, outlined [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[263],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12645","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}