ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Hawaii cheerleader runs across the court with the school’s flag before a second-round men’s college basketball game against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash., Sunday.h 20, 2016.
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Nearly six million viewers watched the University of Hawaii’s two-game stay in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament last week.
The viewership was spread across Turner Sports on TV and March Madness Live streaming.
Friday’s first-round victory over California drew 1,766,696 live streaming viewers, according to Jay Moskowitz of TBS, citing a survey by Conviva, which provides online video technology. Many of the viewers were likely at work given the 8 a.m. Hawaii and 2 p.m. Eastern time tip-off.
March Madness Live streaming is a partnership of the NCAA, Turner Sports and CBS Sports across 12 platforms including tablets and mobile devices.
By comparison the TV audience was listed at 932,000 by Sportsmediawatch.com and TVbythenumbers.com.
Sunday’s loss to Maryland attracted 2,335,000 TV viewers and a live streaming audience of 665,838.
“Those are obviously great numbers of people watching Hawaii basketball and, really, just watching Hawaii being promoted,” UH athletic director David Matlin said. “I think what’s cool about it is that people have an affinity for Hawaii and it is a great opening to promote that.”
Hawaii won its first NCAA Tournament game with the victory over California. The Rainbows were disappointed they lost to Maryland in the Round of 32, but were still pleased with their school-record setting performance this season. The Terrapins continue their journey tonight in the round of the Sweet 16 against top-ranked Kansas in the South Regional in Louisville, Ky.
