3.1 million watched The ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl telecast by ESPN on Christmas Day was watched by approximately 3.1 million people. But the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl and an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and rival Sacramento Kings attracted more viewers, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.
Hawaii Bowl
The game was not the most watched
on Christmas Day, but ESPN
is happy with the ratingsBy Dave Reardon and Dave Segal
dreardon@starbulletin.com | dsegal@starbulletin.comThe Las Vegas Bowl had 3.8 million viewers and the Lakers-Kings game was watched by 7.5 million.
The Lakers-Kings game started a half-hour after the beginning of the Hawaii Bowl, in which Tulane beat Hawaii 36-28 in front of a crowd of 31,535 at Aloha Stadium. The NBA game, which was on ABC, was available to 106.7 million households compared with 87 million for cable network ESPN, which televised the two bowl games.
Although other Christmas sports events were more popular with TV watchers across the country, those associated with the Hawaii Bowl say they are happy with the inaugural game's ratings.
"We thought it was a wonderful success. It rated very well," said Pete Derzis, senior vice president of ESPN Regional Television, the entity that operates the Hawaii Bowl.
Event, network, viewers nationwide and time started in Hawaii Christmas sports viewing
>> Lakers-Kings, ABC, 7.5 million*, 3:30 p.m.
>> Las Vegas Bowl, ESPN, 3.8 million, 11:30 a.m.
>> Hawaii Bowl, ESPN, 3.1 million, 3 p.m.*The Lakers-Kings NBA game was televised by a major network that is available to 106.7 million households compared to 87 million for ESPN.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
"It beat 11 other bowl games that we did on ESPN. That's pretty remarkable for a first-year bowl."
Overall, the Hawaii Bowl got a 2.42 rating, meaning it was viewed in around 2.1 million households. Its rating was 17th among 28 televised 2002-2003 bowl games.
Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson said he was pleased as well.
"I think that's a solid number. I know ESPN has expressed that they're satisfied, that they got what they were hoping for," Benson said. "It was the only college football game on at that time, but there was also a big NBA game on. It's a good solid number."
Derzis said he also expects a good number on the bottom line for ESPN.
"We assume it (made money), we're still running the financials. Our sense is we made a little bit of a profit," Derzis said. "We think the schools had a great experience and the title sponsor is very pleased."
If the Hawaii Bowl generated more than $2 million, each of the participating schools gets more than its guaranteed $750,000 payout. But UH's share of its payout above $350,000 for expenses (plus ground travel expenses) goes to the WAC as part of its agreement as a conference member.
The conference's two other bowl games -- the Humanitarian Bowl and the Silicon Valley Classic -- both appear to have lost money.
"It goes toward the overall revenue generated (by the conference) and some of that money is obviously used to defray costs associated with other bowls," Benson said. "We really don't know what the final numbers are yet, but we project a deficit for both bowls," Benson said.
UH athletic director Herman Frazier said he did not know yet if the school met its budget for the game.
"We're not really sure where we're at because we haven't completed all our billing," Frazier said. "But we're very happy about the ratings for the Hawaii Bowl. The game provided the university and the state a great stage."
ESPN has three games left in its four-year Hawaii Bowl contract with the WAC and Conference USA. ConAgra Foods has made a three-year commitment as title sponsor, Derzis said.
UH Athletics
