By Gary Anderson

November 28 - Over 144 million homes tuned into the 2013 U18 Baseball World Cup claims a report © AFP / Getty ImagesA report by international media rights agency MP & Silva claims the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Under-18 Baseball World Cup was beamed to more than 144 million homes worldwide while there were 22 million online and mobile connections to the event.

The tournament took place in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, from August 30 to September 8 this year, and saw 12 nations taking part in the 45-game competition.

The WBSC says 28 of those matches were broadcast including the final which saw the United States defeating Japan 3-2 to take the gold medal.

"We are thrilled with the Under-1818 Baseball World Cup 2013's audience reach numbers," said Peter Hutton, joint chief executive officer of MP & Silva.

"MP & Silva has been supporting this campaign to reach unprecedented levels of awareness and popularity for baseball since 2011.

"Through our leadership and expertise in the Asian TV market, we were able to guarantee that the Under-18 Baseball World Cup 2013 was one of the most visible international baseball competitions worldwide this year."

A total of 12 broadcasters provided coverage of the Under18 Baseball World Cup, now in its 26th year, across 11 territories, including Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.

The tournament in Taichung was one of a number of WBSC events in 2013 that included the World Baseball Classic, the World Cup of Softball, the Under-12 Baseball World Cup and the Little League World Series.

Action from the World Baseball Classic in March which was one of a number of tournaments this year that have contributed to record broadcast figures according to the WBSC © Getty Images Action from the World Baseball Classic in March which was one of a number of tournaments this year that have contributed to record broadcast figures according to the WBSC
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Earlier this month, the WBSC also sanctioned the 2013 Baseball Challenge which saw the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) host a three-game series against Japan with the Samurais earning a 3-0 win over the hosts.

"While our annual media report has not yet been finalised, the U18 Baseball World Cup numbers confirm the most successful and record-breaking year in the history of international baseball and softball broadcast reach to date, and we are extremely satisfied with the partnership with MP & Silva and with what it continues to deliver," claimed Riccardo Fraccari, WBSC co-President.

"We are aggressively targeting youth and expansion into neighbouring territories of those traditional markets where our sport is already strongly-positioned and poised for further growth."

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