Airing on ESPN for just the second time in its six-year history, the Heart of Dallas Bowl hit a new viewership high.
Saturday’s Washington/Southern Miss Heart of Dallas Bowl drew 2.6 million viewers on ESPN, up 12% from Louisiana Tech/Illinois last year (2.3M) and up 688% from North Texas/UNLV in 2013, the last time the game aired on ESPNU (332K). Ratings were not immediately available.
The Huskies’ win scored the largest audience in the six-season history of the Heart of Dallas Bowl (dates back to 2011), topping last year. Keep in mind the game aired on ESPNU from 2011-14.
While Saturday’s game was able to avoid the NFL — unlike the Independence and Foster Farms bowls later in the day — it still faced its fair share of competition. Coverage aired opposite the Sun Bowl on CBS and Pinstripe Bowl on ABC, both of which did better in the metered markets (final numbers for those games were not yet available).
The Heart of Dallas Bowl was the fifth bowl game on ESPN thus far to post an increase in viewership (16 telecasts), joining the Independence, Bahamas, GoDaddy and Camellia.
(Sat. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
