The ACC will join the SEC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 as the 4th power-5 conference to launch its own television network.
The ACC Network, through a partnership with ESPN, will launch in 2019. The two sides have signed a 20 year partnership.
If the network follows the footprints of the 3 that came before it, in addition to the University of Texas’ Longhorn Network, this should expand the number of swim meets televised. Led by the innovations of the Big Ten, the first network to ever air a live college swimming dual meet on television, all of these networks have added a handful of regular-season and conference championship meets to their offerings, though the networks’ revenues are still primarily driven by football and basketball coverage.
22 current or former ACC swimmers and divers are scheduled to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Full press release below:
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 John Skipper, ESPN President.