MUMBAI: The ratings for the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 have come in, and Extraaa Innings, the cricket related programme on MAX, has opened with a rating of 3.1 reaching 5.23 million viewers.

 
A press release quotes MAX executive vice president and business head Rajat Jain, currently in Johannesburg, South Africa, as saying: "I am glad to announce that right from the word go, MAX's Cricket presentation has been a huge success with viewers. Extraaa Innings has opened with a rating of 3.1. This translates into a cumulative reach of 5.23 million individuals." The source is TAM Peoplemeter System and the target audience is C&S homes.

While Extraaa Innings averaged 3.1 across all TAM markets, it soared to a spectacular high of 6.9 in Calcutta and 4 in Mumbai, says the release.

With the opening ceremony, MAX notched a rating of 1.5, while the terrestrial network garnered only 0.1 in the C & S households, adds the release.

MAX's popular wrap-around programming Extraaa Innings has been equally popular amongst both males and females, delivering a rating of 3.4 amongst all males and 2.7 amongst all females.

"These ratings prove that Extraaa Innings has been hugely popular amongst all viewers," says Rajat Jain. "What is especially noteworthy is that not just the males, but females too have been drawn to it in huge numbers, proving that Extraaa Innings has appealed to both, the purists and the rest alike. "

However, media sources and viewers have appreciated ESPN-Star Sports programmes such as Follow Through have been appreciated.

It looks as if the long fight has just begin and will end with the final game being played on 23 March 2003.