The final match of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2023 attracted a staggering 10.9 million unique home-based live viewers across four linear TV channels.
This is a 26% increase compared to the 2022 Fifa World Cup Final.
It’s worth noting that this number does not account for those who gathered at fan parks for an out-of-home viewing experience, which would make the impressive total substantially higher than the recorded figure.
Local sports viewership growth
The spike in viewership is not entirely unprecedented, but it does speak to international rugby as a growth area in local sports viewership.
This is Nielsen’s Rugby World Cup audience report, which utilises BRC Tams (Broadcast Media Council Television Audience Measurement) data, and shows the significant increases in viewership numbers across four linear TV channels.
“The Springboks’ RWC victory was a historic achievement, showcasing their excellence and teamwork. The significant growth in viewership numbers, when compared to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2019 RWC, highlights the sport’s increasing fandom in our country,” says Tumelo Selikane, managing director of Nielsen Sports SA.
