Champions Trophy 2025: India’s final clash sends ad rates soaring 20-25%

With India storming into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, excitement is at an all-time high—not just among cricket fans but also advertisers eager to capitalize on the massive viewership.

As India faces off against New Zealand for the coveted title on Sunday, ad rates have surged, with brands scrambling for prime slots. Experts estimate that TV and digital ad rates for the final have gone up by 20-25% compared to other India matches.

According to industry sources, while ad rates for India matches were in the range of ?20-25 lakh per 10-second slot on TV, Connected TV (CTV) rates stood at ?10-15 lakh. On the digital side, ad rates were around ?500 per CPM.

The tournament, returning after eight years, has seen record-breaking engagement across TV and digital platforms. The first three matches alone garnered an impressive 110 million TV viewers, underscoring cricket’s enduring popularity in the subcontinent, according to BARC data.

In the ‘male aged 15 and above’ category, the reach stood at 46 million across urban and rural markets. The average TV Rating (TVR)—which factors in audience reach and time spent—was 1.21 for the MF 2+ target group and 1.68 for the Male 15+ ABC target group. The India vs. Bangladesh match recorded an average TVR of 2.04 for the MF 2+ audience and 2.8 for the M 15+ ABC audience.

The India vs. Pakistan clash amassed a staggering 611 million views on JioHotstar, marking a seismic shift in how Indians consume sports content. This represents a dramatic increase from the 2023 India-Pakistan match, which saw 225 million digital views.

This surge aligns with India’s broader digital transformation. By February 2025, the country had 806 million active internet users, with more than half engaged on social media. The rapid adoption of affordable smart TVs and improved internet connectivity has further fueled the growth of Connected TV (CTV) viewership.

With India eyeing the championship, advertisers are willing to pay a premium, making the final not just a blockbuster match but also a goldmine for brands, experts said. 

JioStar earlier unveiled its list of sponsors, which include Dream11, Pernod Ricard India, Beam Suntory, Kohler, Birla Opus, Vodafone Idea, ICICI Direct, LIC Housing Finance Limited, Eicher Motors, Indira IVF and McEnroe.

“We are thrilled to bring the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 to millions of cricket fans in India, supported by a robust roster of sponsors,” said Anup Govindan, Chief Revenue Officer, Sports, JioStar. “This tournament is poised to be a landmark event, and the enthusiastic participation of top brands underscores the unifying power of cricket. We look forward to delivering an unmatched viewing experience for fans and meaningful value for our partners.”

Indira IVF is the Co-presenting Sponsor on DD Sports and LIC Housing Finance Limited the Associate Sponsor.