IPL 2017: 5 reasons why the IPL is a huge hit

#3 TRPs and stadium attendances boosted by vacation season

IPL matches play out to packed crowds every year like this one at the Eden Gardens

Another major plus for the tournament is its timing. Every year, the IPL starts in the first week of April and concludes by the end of May, a two-month period coinciding with the vacation season in India.

Families throng the stadiums to watch their favourite players in action, while those who can’t make it to the stadium too have plenty of time on their hands to watch it live on television. According to figures from the official IPL broadcaster, Sony Pictures Entertainment, about 335 million are said to have watched the event on the television last year – great numbers that vouch for fans’ loyalty towards a tournament that is now approaching its tenth season.

Typically, IPL matches are played and aired live on prime-time television, with the exception of afternoon matches played on weekends. Over the years, the ‘cricket-ainment’ that the tournament offers has been able to attract audience attention from prime-time family soaps and reality shows.