All eyes were on  Neymar when he made his Al-Hilal debut last week. However, while Al-Hilal only managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan’s Navbahor, the match proved to be a huge success in terms of viewership. As the Brazilian took to the field for his AFC Champions League debut, it was his star power that caught the fans’ eyes throughout the globe. He may have failed to deliver any goal contribution for his team, but his presence alone on the pitch illuminated the television screens of millions of fans.

Neymar’s Asian Champions League debut was a delight for the pay-TV landscape, as Al-Hilal’s match earned a huge amount of viewership for the broadcasters. The Brazilian superstar’s debut might not have ended as per the expectations of Al-Hilal’s fans. But, off the pitch, his debut was a major success, as it generated a huge amount of interest from fans across the globe.

Neymar Jr’s debut displays his star power, as it boosted the broadcast viewership

Neymar, the man who is often expected to single-handedly change the course of a game, left Al-Hilal fans disappointed on his AFC Champions League debut. Despite the buzz and anticipation, he was unable to find the back of the net or provide any crucial assist in the game. However, despite his off-guard performance on the pitch, his debut resulted in a great amount of success for the broadcasters.

As reported by UoL, ESPN, the exclusive broadcaster of Neymar’s debut, found itself at the forefront of the pay-TV landscape, reaching approximately 300,000 households during the broadcast. Interestingly, this surge in viewership marked a 17% increase over the second-ranked channel. The interest in Neymar also boosted SportsCenter’s post-match edition of Al-Hilal vs. Navbahor. The program led among sports channels with 195% more viewers than the second-placed segment.

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Disney is the clear beneficiary of Neymar’s arrival in Saudi Arabia. Apart from being a majority stakeholder in ESPN and Star+, the company owns the rights to the Asian Champions League in Brazil and Neymar’s debut was a major ratings success. The interest in Neymar is likely to boost viewership for Al-Hilal’s remaining matches in the tournament, as well as for other Asian Champions League matches.

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ESPN has been a beneficiary of this interest, and the network will be hoping that Neymar can improve his form in the coming weeks. If he does, it could lead to even more viewers tuning in to watch him play. Since, the AFC Champions League boasts big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane, ESPN and Star+ have begun to take advantage of the interest generated by these stars.

Neymar’s journey continues with Al Hilal

Neymar’s debut with Al-Hilal may not have set the pitch ablaze, but it unquestionably set TV screens alight. The Brazilian superstar’s arrival in Riyadh from PSG has ignited a newfound excitement across the globe. Now, not only fans, but broadcasters and media platforms also have their eyes on Neymar Jr. But, as his time with the Saudi club progresses, he’ll need to return to his A-game and get past his injury concerns in order to contest for trophies.

It will be interesting to see how Neymar performs in his first season in Saudi Arabia, and whether he can help Al-Hilal win the Asian Champions League. If the 31-year-old is able to succeed in Saudi Arabia, it will be a major boost for the country’s soccer league. The Saudi Pro League is already attracting some of the world’s best players, and Neymar’s arrival could help to make it one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

As Al-Hilal prepares for their upcoming clash against Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran, the world will once again turn its gaze to the enigmatic Brazilian, eager to see if he can weave his magic in the tournament that now attracts viewers across the continents.

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