Pro Kabaddi season 3 sees 36% growth in TV viewership

On the digital platform, the league grew by 33% growth in total minutes viewed on Hotstar

The third season of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) which kicked off on January 30, recorded a surge in its viewership with the opening week registering 36 per cent higher than the week 1 viewership for its last season informed the broadcaster Star India in a statement.

According to the statement, viewership at all India urban level increased by 36 per cent from 54.5 TVMs (television viewership in millions) in season two to 74 TVMs in in the current. The rural audiences seemed to be equally glued on to the league delivering a staggering 135 TVMs (BARC CS4+ Rural) for its first week this season.

On the digital platform, the league grew by 33 per cent growth in total minutes viewed on Hotstar, the digital platform of Star India, over the first 11 days of the 2016 edition.

Uday Shankar, chief executive, Star India said: "No other sport has grown so fast and gained such wide and deep following with fans across Urban and Rural India, across audience segments - men, women and kids and across screens (television and digital). The sport has truly become a unifier in its appeal, second only to cricket. This brings us a great sense of pride and is a reflection of our commitment to promote a multi-sports culture in India."

Janardan Singh Gehlot,  president of International Kabaddi Federation said: "The triumph of PKL in its successive seasons is proof of the tremendous partnership between Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, the broadcaster Star, and the league organiser Mashal Sports. Kabaddi is set to become India's iconic sport under our partnership. I would also like to congratulate all the eight PKL teams in this achievement."