University of North Carolina Athletics
ACC Network To Launch In 2019
July 21, 2016 | General
CHARLOTTE—ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference will launch the ACC Network – a comprehensive linear and digital network, it was announced today by ACC Commissioner John Swofford and ESPN President John Skipper at the conference's annual Football Kickoff media event in Charlotte.
The 20-year partnership will provide ACC fans unprecedented access to live events via a comprehensive, multi-platform network. It also provides for the extension of the conference's existing rights agreement with ESPN to 2036. ESPN is the ACC's exclusive worldwide rights holder.
Beginning in August 2016, fans can access more than 600 exclusive live events from across the conference via a digital live-events channel 'ACC Network Extra', immediately available to users who have access to ESPN3 via WatchESPN and the ESPN app, with that number growing each year. More than 1,300 ACC events will be distributed across the platforms in 2019 when the linear network launches.
Linear Network Programming
The linear network will feature 450 exclusive live events including 40 regular-season football games, more than 150 men's and women's basketball games, more than 200 other regular-season contests and tournament games from across the conference's 27-sponsored sports, plus a complement of news and information shows and original programming. ESPN has been televising ACC content since 1979 and has exclusive rights to every conference-controlled football and men's basketball game, plus women's basketball and conference sports matchups, as well as all ACC championship events.
“We look forward to working with our longtime partners at the ACC to create a network that reflects the depth and quality of its athletes and teams, and serves the fans who passionately support them. We are proud and excited to add the ACC Network to our industry-leading college content offerings,” said Skipper.
“On behalf of the ACC Council of Presidents, Faculty Athletics Representatives and our ACC Television Committee, we are tremendously pleased to further enhance our long-term partnership with ESPN that includes the creation of the ACC Network and ACC Network Extra, and positions the conference for the long-term future,” said Swofford. “This partnership continues to be a win-win for ESPN and the ACC. ESPN is the premier provider in sports content and this agreement will deliver unprecedented coverage to our fans, while highlighting our quality student-athletes, coaches and institutions.”
Additional details about the network will be announced in the coming months.
Comments From UNC Coaches & Administrators on the ACC Network
UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol L. Folt:
"This is a historic step for our conference, ensuring that the ACC and its member institutions will continue to thrive. At Carolina, we're particularly excited that this agreement will enable us to continue to support a robust and successful 28-sport program and will provide additional exposure for our Olympic sports."
Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham:
"ESPN is the leader in the distribution of live sports broadcasting and our league's partnership with the network has been strengthened. The agreement today extends our rights with ESPN and ensures Carolina's athletic programs will receive a tremendous amount of exposure across a variety of network platforms for many years to come. With this agreement, Carolina and the ACC are well positioned for future coverage of our outstanding teams and their successes."
Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Jenny Levy:
“I could not be more excited for the addition of an ACC Network. I think this is a great opportunity for all the Olympic Sports in the ACC, and necessary to stay competitive in recruiting. Although ESPN3 and GoHeels TV have filled a void and been very important to our Olympic Sport teams at Carolina, they do not match the scope of what the Big Ten Network has been able to do for their partnering institutions. An ACC Network gives us the ability to showcase our Olympic sport athletes, teams and programs, to tell stories and highlight excellence to create exposure and excitement for our member institutions in both traditional and non-traditional markets. Ultimately, this will have a big impact on recruiting.”
Women's Soccer Head Coach Anson Dorrance:
“For the University of North Carolina, for a thousand different reasons it's a good deal. We've got 28 sports. Revenue is an issue. We're always in this regular debate do we deemphasize a sport, do we cut out a sport, do we expand our football stadium. We've got to find ways to generate revenue. So this is absolutely fantastic from that perspective. If we're going to have a broad-based program like we have and we want all the teams to compete nationally we need additional revenue streams. So this is absolutely fantastic from that perspective.
“But also the visibility will be amazing and not just for us but for every sport that we have so that's absolutely positive. These kids love seeing themselves on television. It's going to be a recruiting weapon for every sport. It's going to be a visibility weapon. It's going to be a branding weapon. I can't tell you all the different ways that this is going to benefit the university, the kids that are playing in it, their families, our fans, I could go on and on about the impact of this.
“I can remember in the old days, I'd be in our conference meetings basically saying the SEC is doing this, the Pac 10 or Big 10 is doing this when are we going to start doing this. So there have been a lot of voices clamoring for this. And then when we finally saw pieces of the finished product this is beyond our wildest dreams so this now locks in the conference forever basically – certainly within my lifetime. Certainly I don't think I'll be breathing after 2036 and I'll be long gone. But what this means is the conference is secure and I absolutely love it.
“And obviously I have huge admiration for John Skipper not only basically as a sports genius but also he's a University of North Carolina graduate, and I have to feel that part of this deal was made between two University of North Carolina graduates – John Swofford, who for a while was my boss and I really enjoyed working for him and also John Skipper, who's built this sports empire and I think this marriage again goes to the heart of what they were saying up there. This is not just about business. This is about human connection and I think John Swofford, a UNC graduate being a part of the ACC leading that and John Skipper leading ESPN. These are two UNC grads, so I am proud of this historic moment for all the right reasons. There are Tar Heel fingerprints all over this and I am proud to be a part of all this."
