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ACC to Launch Own Network; Signs 20 Year Deal with ESPN

By George Stockburger

Sep 19, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view of the Atlantic Coast Conference logo on a yard marker during the game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view of the Atlantic Coast Conference logo on a yard marker during the game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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ACC joins the Big Ten, SEC, and PAC-12 with its’ own TV network

Major news broke out of the ACC late Monday evening, as reports of an ACC Network were confirmed by ESPN’s Brett McMurphy. The network is expected to be launched by 2019, following a 20-year deal between the Power 5 conference and ESPN.

The digital aspect of the network will launch either during or prior to the upcoming college football season this fall, while the linear network will be introduced in 2019.

The conference has also extended its grant of rights deal through the life of the ESPN contract.

The deal has multiple ramifications, according to McMurphy. One of those is the future of Notre Dame, which is listed as an Independent program. Should Notre Dame wish to join a conference within the next 20 years, it would have to become a member of the ACC.

ESPN already partners with the SEC and University of Texas, while the Big 10 Network runs through Fox. The PAC-12 network is the first to run independently. According to a 2014 Forbes report, the SEC deal with ESPN and CBS was worth $400 million annually.

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With TV deals comes big revenue. According to McMurphy’s source regarding the new deal, “When the ACC Network revenues are included, the ACC will be very competitive with the upper tier (Big Ten and SEC) of the Power 5 leagues.”

Football will obviously be the driving revenue behind an ACC network, with powerhouses Clemson and Florida State leading the way. Additionally, basketball will cover a large portion of the viewership, especially with Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, and Syracuse in the mix.

This move by the ACC will continue to mount pressure on the Big 12, who have failed to come to an agreement regarding a possible “Big 12 Network.”

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