A record-breaking 12 million viewers tuned in to BBC One to catch the thrilling Women’s World Cup final showdown between England and Spain.
This year’s Women’s World Cup has been a catalyst for a noteworthy uptick in women’s sports viewership, as observed by the Women’s Sport Trust (WST).
On average, fans dedicated nearly ten hours to watching international women’s sports events, per the WST’s findings.
Not just football, but also the Solheim Cup in golf, the England women’s cricket team, and the Netball World Cup garnered considerable viewership.
Despite these advances, the WST has pointed out that there’s still work to be done to turn these international successes into consistent viewing habits.
The Women’s World Cup coverage on BBC mesmerized an impressive 21.2 million viewers across July and August.
The Solheim Cup alone captivated viewers for 9.5 million hours, a significant leap from the 6.3 million hours in 2021. Interestingly, a substantial 33% of its audience were not Ryder Cup watchers, hinting at a distinct fan base for women’s golf.
Rugby’s Women’s Six Nations smashed previous records with 10.4 million viewing hours, a jump from 7.7 million in 2022, while the Red Roses series scored 234,000 views online this summer.
The England women’s cricket team’s viewership peaked at 7.4 million, outdoing their previous best of 6.2 million, and the Netball World Cup also enjoyed a rise from 4.5 million in 2019 to 5.6 million viewers.
On a less upbeat note, domestic women’s cricket saw a 15.5% dip in average viewers for the Women’s Hundred in 2023, despite a 14.2% increase in total viewing hours.
Viewership hours for the Women’s Super League (WSL) also took a 25.8% hit compared to the previous season, amidst reduced coverage hours.
Sky witnessed a 20.5% decrease in average WSL viewership year over year, while the BBC saw a modest increase, buoyed by the 746,000 who watched Arsenal versus Aston Villa — the WSL’s second-most-watched match to date.
“We’re breaking new ground in visibility,” commented Tammy Parlour, CEO and co-founder of WST. She noted that the industry is shifting focus from surface-level metrics to a deeper understanding of what resonates with viewers on a domestic scale.
Parlour likened women’s sports to an emerging start-up, one that requires the freedom to experiment and discover the most effective strategies to captivate and grow its burgeoning audience base.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about women’s world cup viewership 2023
How much did the Women’s World Cup final viewership peak at in 2023?
The Women’s World Cup final in 2023 reached a peak viewership of 12 million on BBC One, indicating a significant increase in interest and support for women’s football.
What has the Women’s Sport Trust found about the average viewing time for women’s sports?
According to the Women’s Sport Trust, the average viewing time for international women’s sporting events is nine hours and 58 minutes, showcasing a robust engagement from the audience.
Aside from football, which women’s sports events have seen a significant rise in viewership?
The Solheim Cup in golf, England’s women’s cricket team matches, and the Netball World Cup have all experienced a significant boost in viewership, indicating a growing interest in women’s sports beyond football.
Did all women’s sports events experience an increase in viewership in 2023?
While many events saw an increase, domestic cricket faced a decline with a 15.5% drop in average viewers for the Women’s Hundred, and Women’s Super League viewing hours decreased by 25.8% from the last season.
What is the significance of the viewership numbers for the Solheim Cup in 2023?
The Solheim Cup was watched for a total of 9.5 million hours, which is up from 6.3 million hours in 2021. Additionally, 33% of the Solheim Cup’s audience did not watch the Ryder Cup, indicating a unique audience for women’s golf.
What did Tammy Parlour say about the current phase of women’s sports visibility?
Tammy Parlour, the CEO and co-founder of the Women’s Sport Trust, stated that the industry is entering a new phase of visibility, focusing on in-depth analysis to understand and drive viewership on a domestic level. She compares women’s sports to a start-up that needs space to test and learn what strategies work best to engage viewers.
More about women’s world cup viewership 2023
- Women’s World Cup Final Peaks at 12 Million Viewers
- Women’s Sport Trust Reports on Viewing Figures
- Surge in Viewership for Women’s Sports Events
- Domestic Women’s Cricket Viewership Declines
- Record-Breaking Viewership for Solheim Cup 2023
- Women’s Super League Faces Decrease in Viewership
- Tammy Parlour Discusses Women’s Sports Visibility
5 comments
gotta admit, I’m one of those who watched the Solheim Cup without giving a hoot about the Ryder, women’s golf is on fire right now!
interesting read, but there’s a lot of stats thrown at us… would like to see more on why certain sports did better than others, is it the players, the hype, the coverage?
wasn’t too surprised by the drop in viewers for women’s cricket, they need to up their game in marketing, not just rely on the sport to sell itself, no?
wow, never woulda thought women’s football would get that many eyeballs, 12 million is huge! goes to show we’re finally givin the ladies the attention they deserve in sports.
did anyone else catch that the Women’s Super League is strugglin’ this year, that’s kinda concerning, hope it’s not a trend and more of a blip on the radar.