The World Cup kicked off in Mid-November, and the UK was treated to an electric opening performance from the boys in white over in Qatar. With six stunning goals coming from the likes of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford – who refused to let the negativity hailed at them following their Euro 2020 exit defeat them – Southgate’s eleven put on an impressive offensive display in their first outing and it posed a good sign for the rest of the tournament.
An estimated figure of 8 million individuals switched on a stream of England’s first game alone and we can expect viewing numbers to spike. In the optimism of a spiking in streams (that follows us all the way to the final!), we take a look back at some of the most watched events ever.
The World Cup
With the latest event underway, it feels only right to appreciate its historical predecessors. While Premier League football is incredibly popular in the UK, the attraction of the World Cup is colossal in relation. The fierce battle for the Premier League title that ensues between the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs each season is estimated to attract over a billion streams. Liverpool were identified as the country’s favourite team to tune into in a recent analysis into streaming popularity, amassing over double the views of some of their close rivals. These figures are overshadowed, however, when we consider the 3.2+ billion viewers who tuned into the 2018 World Cup. And with an ever-growing population, it wouldn’t be ridiculous to expect a higher figure this winter!
Tour de France
A recent study found that 42% of Brits can access or own a bicycle, and 33% of Brits had cycled in the last 12 months. While a third might not seem like much, the interest in watching some of the best cyclists in the world compete is insane in comparison, with over 3.5 billion estimated viewers. Having hosted cyclists for over 100 years, the event is an iconic one across the globe, and this is reflected in the number of people that continue to turn on a stream of the race!
Cricket World Cup
Switching sports to pick up the bat and ball, the Cricket World Cup is one of the most prestigious events in the world, with an estimated viewing of over 2.6 billion worldwide. England managed to claim their victory gloriously in the 2019 World Cup with a tie-breaker win. Winners in previous years include India and also Australia who came out on top in both 2015 and 2007. The event was founded in 1975, the winner of which was the West Indies (over the Australians), and is approaching its 50th year mark. It will surely continue to break its streaming records.
Sporting events like this are a celebration of the top athletes around the world and a chance for international competition that everyone can get involved in. With a final not too long away, football fans around the world pray for the type of final that would attract a record-breaking viewership: Messi V Ronaldo, perhaps. Whatever the outcome, a cracking tournament is underway, and we should watch as much as we can while we have the chance!
