ESPN has signed a 12-year agreement for exclusive rights to broadcast Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) games starting from 2011 to 2023. This agreement will allow ESPN Networks to broadcast ACC controlled football and men’s basketball game, plus women’s basketball and Olympic sports matchups, and conference championships.
ESPN will present ACC conference games on its multiplatform that includes: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com, the new ESPN 3D network, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Gameplan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN International, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Classic and ESPN.com. Numerous events will be produced in high definition across ESPN HD, ABC HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNU HD.
ESPN has also sublicensed event management and production firm ‘Raycom Sports’ to continue its long-standing position as the syndication home of ACC content for over-the-air and regional cable network distribution in the ACC market and beyond. Raycom Sports will also continue to manage the ACC’s official corporate partner program and the exploitation of its digital assets.
ESPN’s new agreement with ACC includes:
- Digital media: Exclusive ACC football, men’s and women’s basketball, and Olympic sports games as well as simulcasts on ESPN3.com. Live ACC games, including football and basketball, on ESPN Mobile TV;
- ESPN 3D: Live ACC action on ESPN 3D, ESPN’s newest network and the first 3D network to launch in the industry;
- Football on national TV: Regular-season action on Saturday afternoon and nights, primetime Thursdays, Labor Day Monday and the ACC Football Championship Game;
- Men’s basketball on national TV: The most games ever across the ESPN networks, highlighted by both regular-season matchups of the storied Duke-North Carolina rivalry each year; for the first time, full national telecasts on all games televised on an ESPN platform (had been local market blackouts on handful of telecasts); a new weekly Sunday franchise on ESPNU; every regular-season intra-conference game and the entire conference tournament produced and distributed via ESPN and Raycom Sports;
- Olympic sports: An expanded commitment to the league’s 22-sponsored Olympic sports with regular-season and championship telecasts, highlighted by baseball, softball, lacrosse, and men’s and women’s soccer;
- Syndication: Syndication rights for ACC football, basketball and Olympic sports action for over-the-air and regional cable network distribution in ACC markets and beyond via an agreement with Raycom Sports and through potential sublicense agreements with other national outlets;
- Women’s basketball: A record number of women’s regular-season basketball games and the addition of the entire conference tournament;
- Additional outlets: ACC action on ESPN International, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes; and extensive content rights for ESPN.com.
George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN said “Some of ESPN’s most memorable moments have featured the ACC and we’re proud to extend our long-term relationship with this great conference and Raycom.”
John Swofford, ACC Commissioner said, “We are excited to be continuing our partnership with ESPN and Raycom Sports. This agreement allows our schools to reach significantly new financial heights while also showcasing more ACC content and coverage than ever before across traditional and new media platforms.”
Ken Haines, President and CEO of Raycom Sports said “We are very excited to continue our 30 year partnership with the ACC and ESPN. Throughout the ever-changing landscape of sports television, we have always prided ourselves on the long term relationships we have with both the ACC and ESPN.”
Related posts:
- 2012 ACC Men’s College Basketball Broadcast Schedule On ESPN
- ESPN and The West Coast Conference Sign Eight Year Rights Agreement Extension
- ESPN and Pac-12 Sign Twelve Year Agreement
- Raycom Sports Rebrands Syndicated ACC Package As ‘ACC Network’
- Sports Media Group and Conference USA Enters Multi-Year Rights Agreement
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