Hawaii Bowl
draws fewer viewers
than last yearThe Christmas Day game shown
live on ESPN was watched by less
than three million people
Sunny Hawaii in winter. Triple-overtime. More than 100 points scored and 1,158 yards of offense. A postgame brawl.
By most standards, last week's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl provided pretty compelling television. But the game shown live by ESPN on Christmas Day got an initial 2.2 rating, lower than the final 2.42 that the inaugural Hawaii Bowl (then sponsored by ConAgra Foods) received last year. (Little deviation is expected in the final rating for last week's game, which should be available next week.)
The rating transfers into a little less than three million viewers. Last year 3.1 million watched the game.
Although the viewership was lower this year, the cable network -- of which a subsidiary, ESPN Regional, owns the game -- is happy with the number in the overall scheme of things.
"It's another rating we view as a successful one in our bowl week," ESPN spokesman Michael Humes said.
Unlike last year, though, the Hawaii Bowl did not have another football game to compete against for viewers on Christmas. In 2002, the Las Vegas Bowl had 3.8 million viewers. That game was played on Christmas Eve this year.
"It's a good number, by no means discouraging." WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. "It shows that it's still an entertaining telecast, something people want to watch."
Hawaii Bowl executive director Jim Donovan said the rating is good considering the game went up against an NBA doubleheader. But that was the only other sports event on national TV on Christmas.
"You look at the matchup, and both teams were unranked, but it's a pretty good time slot," Donovan said. "It's in the ballpark of what we did last year, and I've been told that any (rating) over two is pretty good."
Donovan is more concerned about attendance. The announced crowd last week was 25,551. The game must average 25,000 (in actual attendance) for three years beginning with this year to maintain its NCAA certification.
"I'm really happy with the final run the last week. But the numbers are still a little lower than I'd hoped for," Donovan said.
Donovan said both schools will receive the minimum bowl payout of $750,000 because of the low attendance. Last year, Hawaii and Tulane each received close to $900,000 (most of which went to the schools' respective conferences and toward expenses).
Also, the game might be moved from Christmas if the NFL has a game on Dec. 25 next year, Donovan said. Possibilities include Friday, Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 27.
