Season 2 of Betway SA20 sees incredible broadcast, digital, and attendance figures

The second season of the Betway SA20 continued to build on the success of the first season with strong growth in broadcast, digital engagement, and stadium attendance.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinched the title in a sold-out final at Newlands, capping another season of highly competitive cricket, packed stadiums, and unprecedented fan engagement.

The season featured 34 thrilling matches, with standout performances including Will Jacks' record-breaking 41-ball century and Heinrich Klaasen's explosive batting, which ultimately earned him the title of Betway SA20 Player of the Season. The Betway Catch R2 Million competition saw a surge in sixes to 454, adding to the excitement of the league with 8 winners sharing the prize money.

On the ground, the league's popularity soared with 10 sold-out matches and 70% of all tickets sold throughout the season. According to the fan survey, the stadium experience continues to be a draw with 96% of fans rating it as 'very enjoyable' and competitive cricket is also a key driver of fan interest in watching and attending matches.

Global viewership across 9 broadcasters including India, the UK, the USA, and Australia grew by 21%, reinforcing Betway SA20's status as the premier T20 franchise league. Locally on SuperSport, the league saw a 24% increase in viewership and attracted an audience that was 46% female

The league's social following more than doubled in season 2, while video views, website visits, and engagements also increased by more than 100%.

Global media coverage was extensive, generating a PR value of R4 billion and reaching a cumulative audience of 75.5 billion. In South Africa, Betway SA20 attracted non-traditional news coverage with a media value of R64 million.

League Commissioner Graeme Smith hailed the success of the season and thanked fans, partners, players, and stakeholders for their support:

“We are proud to celebrate the success of Season 2 of the Betway SA20. The continued growth in our viewership, following, engagement and attendance numbers reflects a growing interest in both the product and the excellent cricket that was showcased this past season. We once again thank all the fans, players, partners and broadcasters, franchises and stakeholders for their support which led to another successful season.”

Cricket Excellence: Season 2 featured four centuries (Kyle Verreynne, Jordan Hermann, Rassie van der Dussen and Will Jacks), 49 half-centuries and a total of 454 sixes from the batsmen, while on the bowling front, there were 3 5-wicket hauls (Noor Ahmad, Junior Dala and Marco Jansen). All in all, it was competitive cricket with 10 thrilling last-over finishes.

Record attendances: The season saw a surge in fan interest with 10 sold-out matches and 98% of fans expressing satisfaction with the stadium experience.

Global viewership: Globally, Betway SA20 saw a 21% increase in broadcast viewership, further cementing its status as a popular global sporting event.

SuperSport: On SuperSport, the league saw a 24% increase in viewers and a 26% increase in viewing time for season 2, with 46% of viewers being female.

Digital engagement: Season 2 saw unprecedented digital engagement, with 75 million video views and an 882% increase in social engagement during the final compared to Season 1.

Media coverage: Extensive media coverage generated 18,000 media stories, extending the reach and impact of the league.

PR value: The league's success translated into a remarkable global PR value of R4 billion, enhancing brand awareness and reputation.

Sold-out final: The Season 2 final at Newlands Cricket Ground was sold out for the second consecutive year, underlining the appeal of the league as South Africa's premier T20 cricket competition.

Social Impact: Betway SA20 continued its commitment to social impact by raising R900 000 for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa to support community development initiatives.