Historic run of Proteas Women's cricket team shines with SuperSport viewers

In a record-breaking journey, the Proteas Women’s cricket team became the first senior South African team to reach a World Cup final, achieving this historic feat in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February 2023.

Making the final again in 2024, with back-to-back appearances in global finals, the Proteas Women captured the nation’s attention and demonstrated the growing enthusiasm for women’s cricket across South Africa.

This is evident in Nielsen Sports SA Fan Insights data, which highlights a marked increase in South Africa’s engagement with women’s cricket and shows rapidly rising viewership numbers.

Nielsen Fan Insights data proves that women’s cricket is gaining significant traction in the hearts of South Africans, and this directly translates into their televised sports viewing habits.

SuperSport’s 2024 broadcasts reached a total unique live audience of 982 988 – a 21 per cent increase from the previous year; and a total unique audience of over 1.2 million – up 17 per cent.

The increase means that the Proteas Women’s cricket team now commands a top-2 level of interest, up from 57 per cent in 2023 to 63 per cent in 2024.

Data further details an evolving demographic: among fans with a high interest in the team, half are women, and two-thirds are under the age of 40, proving that the Proteas Women’s achievements have sparked a fresh wave of enthusiasm across diverse viewer segments.

Tumelo Selikane, Managing Director at Nielsen Sports SA, comments, “The Proteas Women’s remarkable success has resonated deeply with South African fans. This historic achievement shows that women’s cricket in South Africa is capturing the hearts and minds of both traditional cricket followers and new audiences, particularly among younger fans.

SuperSport’s extensive coverage has been instrumental in bringing this excitement into the homes of many proud South Africans.

The team is not only being noticed by fans but also by brands looking to connect with the growing audience. The data is a powerful indicator for rightsholders who want to gain a foothold with a new generation of fans.”

SuperSport’s commitment to showcasing women’s sport through live and secondary broadcasts has also made the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup more accessible to fans across South Africa.

With broadcasts on seven channels and secondary viewership growing by 12 per cent, South Africans engaged with the sport like never before, once again highlighting the increasing appeal of women’s cricket.

Good luck to the team for 2025.