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SailGP posts strong viewership figures for season two

Sailing - 09 May 2022

SailGP, the international sailing series, enjoyed significant broadcast audience growth of more than 200% for its second season.

The competition’s total broadcast audience (dedicated and secondary) saw an increase of 220% to 823.4 million viewers, with the dedicated broadcast audience of 39.2 million representing a 131% increase on season one.

Over 700 broadcast hours were aired per event in over 186 territories, while on digital platforms, SailGP surpassed 1 million followers globally.

SailGP’s digital content delivered 97 million views, representing a 355% increase on the first season. 16 million of those views came from event live streams on SailGP’s digital platforms, including YouTube and Facebook, with a total watch-time of 2.5 million hours.

The series also generated 481 million social media impressions and a total of 144,522 onside spectators for the second season that concluded in March.

SailGP’s female fanbase also grew in season two, and it increased its younger viewership, with a 21% increase in the number of 18- to 34-year-olds watching events digitally.

On the water, the league grew from six to eight teams in season two and held eight events, up from five in season one.

Australia were crowned champions for the second successive season.

Russell Coutts, SailGP chief executive, said: “The growth of our league in season two, in truly unprecedented circumstances, is a fantastic testament to the commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm of our fans, athletes, and staff.

“SailGP has never shied away from its pioneering ambition - to redefine the sport by creating a fully sustainable, annual global racing league for the top professional athletes in the sport - and these impressive results across all of our platforms, and in all areas of the business, are recognition of how we are realizing those ambitions.

“The growth of our league is exciting and looks set to continue with what we’ve already achieved with additional venues and teams for season three.”

The third season of SailGP gets underway this weekend and features another global calendar of events, starting with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix on May 14 and 15, culminating in the Grand Final in San Francisco in May 2023.

In between, the championship visits destinations including Chicago, Plymouth, Copenhagen, Saint-Tropez, Cádiz, Dubai, and Christchurch.