US college sports organisation the Atlantic Coast Conference has confirmed the launch of its own network after agreeing an extension to its rights deal with US sports broadcaster ESPN.
Under the 20-year deal, ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference will launch the ACC Network – a linear and digital platform. The agreement also provides for the extension of the conference’s existing rights agreement with ESPN to the end of the 2035-36 school year. Financial terms of the new deal were not disclosed, but ESPN signed a 12-year deal in 2010 that was reportedly worth $1.86bn (€1.68bn).
ESPN is the ACC’s exclusive worldwide rights holder and beginning next month, fans will be able to access more than 600 exclusive live events from across the conference via a digital live-events channel. ACC Network Extra will be immediately available to users who have access to digital service ESPN3 via WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
More than 1,300 ACC events will be distributed across the platforms in 2019 when the linear network launches. The linear network will feature 450 exclusive live events including 40 regular-season American 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 American football and men’s basketball game, plus women’s basketball and conference sports matchups, as well as all ACC championship events.
The formation of a network will see the ACC join rivals the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12 in holding its own platform. ACC commissioner John Swofford said the venture positions the conference for the “long-term future.”
The ACC’s members are: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.