most watched sporting event in history

[Ken Gargett]

for anyone who thinks cricket is a curious oddity, it is anticipated that tomorrow's game in adelaide in the world cup one-day cricket competition, which will be between india and pakistan (with 50,000 in the ground), will be the most watched sporting event in history.

it may topple the recent soccer world cup, which had well over a billion people watching, or may just go close.

either way, not bad considering it is a first round game and not even at the stage of the quarter finals.

imagine the size of the tv audience world wide if those two teams played in the final!

[wea1959]

Bollywood at the half?

[Ken Gargett]

Bollywood at the half?

in adelaide? may be a little zither music.

[wea1959]

Yeah, that should pump the Bud Light and Pizza Hut sales

[Ken Gargett]

Yeah, that should pump the Bud Light and Pizza Hut sales

bud light? in adelaide? at the oval? good luck with that.

[wea1959]

mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa

I must confess my exposure to cricket is limited to a nine month stay on the island on Montserrat, BWI. A fascinating game played played with enthusiasm.

[westg]

for anyone who thinks cricket is a curious oddity, it is anticipated that tomorrow's game in adelaide in the world cup one-day cricket competition, which will be between india and pakistan (with 50,000 in the ground), will be the most watched sporting event in history.

it may topple the recent soccer world cup, which had well over a billion people watching, or may just go close.

either way, not bad considering it is a first round game and not even at the stage of the quarter finals.

imagine the size of the tv audience world wide if those two teams played in the final!

Estimated 1.2 billion watching ...coming from the great Ian Botham

[Ken Gargett]

Estimated 1.2 billion watching ...coming from the great Ian Botham

no, that is the figure that has been often quoted over recent days. i heard beefy mention it but i've heard it from a number of sources.

and no probs re the bud light. adelaide oval is perhaps a lot more fun than i suggested. plenty of people have spent five days at the tests behind the stadium, in the hospitality tents and not seen a single ball.

[JohnS]

The reason for the large audience is due to the fact that since the 1950s both nations have had major diplomatic conflicts which led to their sporting teams not playing each other. Since the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008 India and Pakistan have not played any test matches. They have only played 9 One-day games at neutral venues since, the last a year ago.

[westg]

no, that is the figure that has been often quoted over recent days. i heard beefy mention it but i've heard it from a number of sources.

Like Botham...No ?

[Ken Gargett]

Like Botham...No ?

if you mean botham as a source, one of several. presume he has heard it from similar ones. sorry, we might be at cross purposes. not sure if you mean that botham also heard it or that he is the source of it.

i had posted this well before i hard it from botham in the commentary.

[westg]

Contrary to any purpose Ken I think we can have a mutual understanding that well over a billion people will be watching the game ..

I hope you enjoy it ..

[wabashcr]

In the US, to watch it legally, you have to pay ESPN $99 for a package which allows you to stream the entire ICC WC. I understand the cricketing world will do just fine without US interest, but it's a shame that such a global event isn't more accessible here. Of course there are always alternative avenues, but I usually try to reserve those for events that aren't offered to me at all, regardless of cost.

[GavLew79]

bud light? in adelaide? at the oval? good luck with that.

At least the XXXX was cold when I was there!

[Bill Hayes]

Adelaide Oval is a great stadium. The new renovations have still maintained a touch of the historic feel to the ground and the locals have really embraced it. XXXX is a Queensland beer. Coopers is a good Adelaide beer. I can't remember what was on offer when I went there for the AFL football. Should be quite a spectacle.

[Ken Gargett]

Contrary to any purpose Ken I think we can have a mutual understanding that well over a billion people will be watching the game ..

I hope you enjoy it ..

agreed. wasn't trying to be difficult. just didn't follow if you were saying the source was botham and he was not reliable (which may well be true) or that he had also heard from sources, which was the same as me.

agreed the comment that it is a shame it is not available to all in the states. we are not much better off. yesterday's game of australia v england was on free to air but none of the others. i have not checked but i suspect we we get the aussie games and none others, except i assume semis/final.

xxxx was a qld beer. now part of lion nathan which i think traces back to japan. long gone are the days where a beer has the unquestioning loyalty of an entire state (coopers might be an exception though it is popular wherever i go). would not be surprised if they sold xxxx at the adelaide oval (hey, i would not be all that surprised if they did sell bud light).

bill, was at the adelaide oval for the ashes last series. sadly, they didn't finish the new stand in time but it was so close you could easily see how great it was. they have done it brilliantly.

think that covers everything.

[Bill Hayes]

Yep, probably a good chance I was drinking Carlton Draught at the AFL because it is a sponsor.