The final statistics have been reported for the broadcasting of the FIDE Women’s World Championshipheld in Sochi between March 16 and April 5, 2015.
The daily audience of the Championship games’ Internet broadcasts exceeded 100,000 spectators from 201 countries.
The online broadcast of the event was organized in English and in Russian by the Russian Chess Federation on the tournament’s website (sochi2015.fide.com) and the RCF’s website (ruchess.ru).
During three weeks, International Grandmasters and chess experts from five countries commented the games of the match in English and in Russian on a daily basis.
The chess fans watching the progress of the match also visited a virtual art gallery. An exhibition, which was dedicated to the victory in World War II depicted by Russian artists, marked the 70th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany. The paintings and sculptures, conceived in various styles and genres, were provided by the Foundation Art Russe, the RCF’s partner implementing educational projects to support and promote Russian 20th century art.
The virtual exposition was organized as part of a cooperation agreement signed by the Foundation and the Russian Chess Federation shortly before the event began.
The tournament has been watched by more than 1 million people from 201 countries. Fifty-five percent of the audience watched the broadcast in English and 45% in Russian, with 30% of the chess fans located in Russia, 12% in Ukraine, 10% in France, 7% in Germany and 6% in the United States. The online audience also included spectators from Indonesia, Malaysia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Guatemala and many other countries.
A record number of spectators – 50,000 views simultaneously – was registered during the broadcast of the final match’s last game between Mariya Muzychuk and Natalia Pogonina. The final match was the most popular one, with 270,000 views.
To recap, the online broadcasting technology was used for the first time by the Russian Chess Federation in 2012 during the World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand, which was held in the Tretyakov Picture Gallery in Moscow.
The RCF also supported the broadcasting of the Alekhine Memorial from Louvre (Paris) and the Russian Museum (St. Petersburg), the Russian Chess Championship 2014 from the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan (Kazan), and the World Chess Championship Match 2014 (Sochi).
Thanks to a unique broadcasting technology, every significant chess event has become accessible for millions of spectators from all over the world.
by Chessdom
It’s time for a website solely dedicated to women’s chess and the women of chess, an international endeavor that would connect all women (and girls) who are interested in chess, a place where women could speak to each other, encourage each other, encourage the young, offer support, appreciate each other, tell stories, be themselves.
Who can do this? Surely there is somewhere a Sinquefield-like women’s benefactor, or small dedicated group of women, who could do this.
Susan? Could you make a few calls?