KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State's brand has never been bigger ahead of KSU's start in Conference USA. Owl Nation's reach has expanded with support from 2023-24 viewership and social media metrics. 

The KSU Owl Network and Athletic Communications Department measured the interest in KSU last year with the following notable achievements: 

Football (Instagram, X, Facebook)

• Impressions across social media channels increased 35%, engagement was up 19%, and there was a 33% growth in followers. 

• Its ESPN+ streams on the KSU Owl Network set viewership records across all four studied categories. 

• The season provided its most unique viewers, a 38% year-over-year increase, and the highest average number of viewers with a 66% increase. 

• Last year also totaled the most minutes watched, an 18% rise, highest average minutes watched, a 41% increase, and its most-watched KSU Owl Network produced game ever vs. Furman (586,969 minutes watched and 28,200 viewers). 

Men's Basketball (Instagram, X, Facebook)

• Its X page gained over 3 million impressions and totaled 1.25 million on Instagram. 

• Men's basketball increased its Instagram following by 65.8% and by 13% on X. 

• With exciting contents, its ESPN+ streams on the KSU Owl Network saw an increase in the average minutes per viewer by 9%. 

 Women's Basketball (Instagram, X, Facebook)

• KSU women's basketball exhibited massive brand growth from the year prior with 616,884 more impressions across its social media channels and more than doubled its engagements. 

• Last year's engagements off its X account was more than the entire 2022-23 engagements from all of its social media accounts. 

• There were double-digit increases in its viewership. Its total viewership boosted 30% from the previous year, and its total minutes jumped by 34%. 

• The average viewership increased by 21%, and the average minutes viewed bumped up 24%. 

Baseball (Instagram, X, Facebook)

• In its second appearance in a conference championship game in the last three years, KSU baseball more than doubled its post impressions (+3,460,725) and engagements (+78,964) from 2022-23. 

• KSU baseball continued its popularity on Instagram by gaining 1,438 more followers than the year prior. 

• Viewers were engaged with thrilling games. Its KSU Owl Network-produced games increased the average minutes per viewer by 47%. 

Softball (Instagram, X, Facebook)

• Its interest on ESPN+ saw the strongest annual increase of any KSU sport and set sport viewership records within the KSU Owl Network. 

• There was an outstanding 581% increase in viewers and 162% increase in average viewers. 

• Its broadcasts had an impressive jump of 699% in minutes watched and a 207% increase in average minutes watched. 

• There was a 13% increase in average minutes per user, and its contest against UGA was the most-watched softball game ever with over 28,000 viewers and 938,853 minutes watched. 

• Additionally, Owl softball added an 11% rise in social media followers.

Women's Soccer (Instagram, X)

• The women's soccer social media accounts saw a 40% increase in follower growth from the prior year. 

• It held a 32% increase in off-season impressions. 

• Its ESPN+ streams produced by the KSU Owl Network garnered the most-ever unique viewers, a 28% increase, its most minutes watched, a 33% jump, and highest average minutes per user, good for 10% growth. 

• Additionally, women's soccer had its second-highest average viewership and minutes watched. 

• KSU's match vs. Florida was its most-watched ever where the Owls tied the SEC foe. 

 Volleyball (Instagram, X, Facebook)

• KSU volleyball was no exception to the nation's surging interest in the sport with viewership records in all studied categories. 

• The Owls had their highest total unique viewers, which marked a 147% increase.

• Its total minutes watched soared 214%, and its average minutes per viewer jumped 42.7%.  

• KSU volleyball widened its fan base with a 51% increase of Instagram followers, and tallied over half a million impressions across its X and Instagram platforms. 

 Lacrosse (Instagram, X)

• KSU lacrosse increased its average minutes per ESPN+ viewer by 30%, resulting in an approximate nine more minutes watched per game. 

• The match against Queens registered 48.17 average minutes per user and was the highest ever. 

• The program widened its visibility on Instagram, with nine reels totaling over 7,000 views each, including its most popular reel yet at near 18,000 views. 

Other notable milestones: 

• Won the CSC Changemaker Innovation Award for its "Be Here" basketball ticket campaign. 

• Placed in four CSC Creative and Design Contest national categories: Hype/Pregame Video (4th), Longform Video Recap (6th), Non-Gameday Graphics (13th), and Online Magazine and Special Event Programs (2nd). 

• KSU Owl Network was recognized with a record six SVG finalist honors. 

• The track and field / cross county social media channels increased their impressions by 730% on Instagram and 365% on X. 

• The track and field / cross county Instagram account had an impressive 107% increase in follower growth. 

• Women's golf recorded five posts that received over 100 likes, three more than the closest year. 

• The conference champions received the most interactions of any season to date and had the most popular post in the team's social media history on Instagram. 

• Both men's and women's tennis enjoyed their highest engagement of any recorded month in April. 

• The men's golf Instagram account had three of its highest-engaged and impressions from posts this season, capitalizing off the program's three tournament victories. 

• KSU Athletics launched a monthly coaches show, Owl Nation Live, on-campus that airs on KSUOwls.com. 
  
  To learn more about the KSU Owl Network, including internship opportunities, click here.
   

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