ACC, ESPN extend deal to 2036 that includes new ACC Network

“As we thought about our media future, it was important to us that we take advantage of an emerging distribution technology”, said ACC commissioner John Swafford in making the announcement this morning at the conference’s annual football media day in Charlotte.

The network is part of a new media agreement the conference reached with ESPN that extends through 2035-36.

“ACC Network Extra will be available to users who have access to ESPN3 via WatchESPN and the ESPN app. An estimated 600 live events will be available”. “We are proud and excited to add the ACC Network to our industry-leading college content offerings”.

This story will be updated… Once the new linear network launches, it will air more than 400 exclusive live events from around the conference’s 27 sports, including 40 regular-season football games and more than 150 men’s and women’s basketball games.

The ACC schools extended their grant of rights agreement, providing the league with some stability thanks to a stiff financial penalty for any school interested in leaving the conference.

“We have to make sure we continue to keep up with (the other power conferences) and be in a strong position there to compete nationally”, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said Thursday.

The current “ACC Digital Network”, which offers highlights and feature programming online, will supplement the live sports action the new ACC Network Extra will carry.

The ACC Network, it’s happening. A few months later, Maryland made a decision to join the Big Ten and left the ACC reeling.

This is a developing story so we’ll have more as soon as possible. The ACC Network is a way for the league to exponentially improve that model in revenue sharing with its 15 members and improve promotion of its brand nationally and internationally.