Hawaii Poll results suggest football pay-per-view should continue

For many Hawaii residents, the best seat in the house for a University of Hawaii football game is a seat in their own house.

By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, participants in The Hawaii Poll favored keeping pay-per-view telecasts as an option for watching the Rainbow Warriors this coming season. They also overwhelming favored that UH should be required to have a balanced budget for athletics.

The Hawaii Poll, which was commissioned by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy on July 6-11, asked 800 registered Hawaii voters statewide these two questions:

On the pay-per-view question, 43 percent favored continuing the option, 23 percent were opposed, and 34 percent responded “not sure.” Of Oahu residents polled, 45 percent said pay-per-view should continue, 25 percent said it should not, and 30 percent were not sure. Of neighbor island residents polled, 39 percent were in favor, 19 percent opposed, and 42 percent were not sure.

On the issue of a balanced budget, 77 percent favored a requirement, 16 percent were opposed to mandating one, and 7 percent did not voice an opinion.

The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

MORE FROM THE LATEST HAWAII POLL:

>> Hawaii Poll: Hanabusa’s lead fades as Ige bounces back

>> Hawaii Poll: Andria Tupola surges from behind to take big lead

As of Wednesday — seven weeks before the Rainbow Warriors’ 2018 home opener against Navy— UH had sold 11,442 season tickets for football, Star-Advertiser columnist Ferd Lewis reported. Last year’s final season-ticket total was 14,294.

If pay-per-view telecasts — which may be viewed live at home and in restaurants/bars or a movie theater — pull away fans from Aloha Stadium, they also contribute significantly to UH’s bank account.

In a multi-year deal with Spectrum that expires June 30, 2020, UH has received between $2.3 million and $2.4 million annually for the exclusive local television rights. To equal the amount it gets from Spectrum, which broadcasts multiple UH sports, the school would have to sell more than 20,000 additional lowest-priced season tickets for football.

UH also does not receive a share of the Mountain West Conference’s annual revenue from television rights fees. This past academic year, about $14.5 million was split among 11 Mountain West schools. UH, which is an affiliate member in football, does not have to share the money it receives from Spectrum but does not partake in the Mountain West television revenue. If Hawaii asked to participate, its cut would surely be lower than what it receives from Spectrum.

“UH has benefited significantly from the existing business relationship with Spectrum and we appreciate the strong partnership we have had over the years,” UH athletic director David Matlin told the Star-Advertiser. “Our TV rights revenues compare very favorably to our peers, historically and currently.”

Matlin also said UH is considering alternative means of providing live sporting events to fans. “In the end, live sports programming has value, and that is a positive for our university and state,” Matlin said.

MORE FROM THE LATEST HAWAII POLL:

>> Hawaii Poll finds voters trust Gov. David Ige’s leadership

>> Republican support for Donald Trump surges in Hawaii Poll

Matlin said his goal is a balanced budget for the 20-sport department. Matlin said the estimated $40 million annual budget includes “approximately $7.5 million in unique costs based on our geography.” Among the so-called unique costs are travel subsidies to visiting Mountain West and Big West teams and higher appearance fees for opponents.

Matlin said the past three fiscal years, the deficits went from $4.2 million annually to $3.2 million to $1.7 million for the fiscal year ending in June 2017. The deficit for the recently concluded fiscal year still is being reviewed. UH covers the athletic department’s revenue shortfalls, ensuring vendors and contracts are fully paid.

“We are running a lean operation and, comparatively, we are generating more revenue than most of our peers,” Matlin said.

Hawaii Poll: UH Football Pay-Per-View by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd