MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Sport / Gqeberha Opener Breaks Records

Gqeberha Opener Breaks Records

Betway SA20 has kicked off its third season with a bang, solidifying its position as a major force in the cricket landscape. Opening match viewership numbers significantly exceeded previous records from Season 1 and Season 2 with the opener between defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town drawing a record total live unique audience of 382,778 viewers on SuperSport, a remarkable 129% increase from Season 2.

This makes the Betway SA20 opening match the second-highest recorded live opening viewership number in this summer season of cricket on SuperSport, fractionally behind the T20I series between the Proteas and India, with the League also exceeding the viewership of the IPL and Big Bash games in this market.

The opening week has also seen record attendance numbers, with four sold out opening matches and a 79% attendance rate across the rain interrupted opening six matches. The fans who have turned up in their numbers across the country continue to embrace the cricket and entertainment experience at the stadiums, with the trend set to continue as the action heats up for the rest of the group matches.

Graeme Smith, the League Commissioner said: “We’ve worked hard to establish the League as property that appeals to viewers at home and those who come to the stadium and these numbers give us the confidence that we are on the right track to keep building on a strong foundation. ​ The collective support of our franchises, SuperSport and the fans has played a key role in our success and over the next three weeks of the tournament we will continue to work together to deliver something special for the fans.’’

The League and SuperSport have worked together to take South Africa’s premier T20 franchise cricket League to a wider audience demographic, with select matches broadcast on DSTV Access through the SuperSport Variety 4 Channel.

“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to the Betway SA20 league,” says Tumelo Selikane, Managing Director of Nielsen Sports SA. “The strong viewership numbers are a testament to the League’s growing popularity and the exceptional work of SuperSport and the League. This is fantastic news for their sponsors and a clear indication that the League is transforming the appeal of domestic cricket in South Africa.” ​ ​

Betway SA20’s success is not just limited to viewership and attendance. The League has also attracted a significant number of new sponsors this season, further solidifying its commercial value and appeal. This influx of sponsors is a testament to the League’s growing reputation as a valuable platform for brands looking to reach a passionate and engaged audience through sports entertainment. ​ ​

The increased viewership numbers also bode well for the League’s franchise teams, who have built strong local brands and have also been successful in attracting new sponsors. The increased brand exposure generated by the League’s growing viewership is expected to yield significant media value returns for these sponsors. ​ ​

Season three of Betway SA20 is poised for continued success, with strong viewership numbers and growing commercial appeal. As the tournament progresses, we anticipate even greater audience engagement, further solidifying its position as a premium and unique sporting event in South Africa. ​

Category: Tag: ,

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Older Persons Grants Land Today — No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, Older Persons grants are paid today, 30 October, under SASSA’s revised November payment schedule — with disability grants on Monday 2 November, children’s grants on Tuesday 3 November, and grants under review on Thursday 5 November. Two things every beneficiary should know. First, grant money does not expire on payment day. It stays…

  • November Grants Pay Early – No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. November grants pay earlier than usual. Older Persons grants are paid on Friday 30 October, Disability grants on 2 November, and Child Support and other grants on 3 November. Grants still under review are paid on 5 November. The money…

  • NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October — SASSA households, apply now

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year close on Friday 31 October 2026, and no extension is expected. If your household receives a SASSA grant, your child already passes the NSFAS financial eligibility test — but they still have to…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Saurav Ganguly is the only player to win four consecutive Man of the Match awards in ODIs.

  2. The dubious honor of being called the worst Test batsman belongs to New Zealand’s Chris Martin. He has a poor batting average and only ever achieved double figures once. He was so bad that he even starred in an ad for Pulp Sport spoofing his (lack of) batting skills.