ACC Getting A Network
- Thread starter topdecktiger
- Start date
I've been pretty meh about the concept of an ACC Network because honestly I don't think anyone will watch it. But if it works and makes the conference money, so be it.
Well, if you want to see all of the football games I don't think you will have a choice. I don't know the details, but I would assume that all of the ACC games that are on raycom now will be moved to the ACC network. It will be nice to finally see more than two baseball games a year too.
Most people don't watch these conference networks. That's why they make little money from advertising. The whole point is subscription fees, not ratings.
It has to program smartly and not equally. Meaning, nationally, UNC baseball will draw many more viewers than Wake or Moo or Dook or VT or BC or Pitt baseball. UNC hoops vs. Coastal Carolina will draw many more viewers than VT hoops vs the same Chanticleers.
To maximize viewership, the ACC network must televise the games live that will draw the most interest - from among the ones available. And it must do that for every sport. If one Saturday, the available games are BC vs. Buffalo, Dook vs Tulane and GT vs. Army, then the last is the best bet.
Some more information. When the cable channel launches in 2019, it will televise 40 football games and150 basketball games yearly, along with other sports. When the digital channel launches this year, Olympic sports, and content moved from ESPN3. I'm assuming that means football and basketball as well.
With yet another P5 conference getting their own channel, I wonder if it will get Notre Dame to consider joining in football. They are currently getting $15 million a year from NBC. The SEC and Big 10 teams pulled in over $30 million a piece. You have to figure that the ACC will pull in around the same amount. That's pretty enticing.
I've seen some speculation that ESPN wants even more ACC-SEC games now, to further cement the ties between the 2 leagues that have league networks with ESPN. If so, I want UNC to play Bama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss. I reckon SoCar would be tolerable.
If that is the plan, then I'm betting ESPN is going to push the UNC vs SC game and try to turn it into a rivalry. Not necessary a game that would be played every year, but more often than not.
David Teel article on ACCN revenues:
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-blog/dp-teel-time-more-acc-network-post.html
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-blog/dp-teel-time-more-acc-network-post.html
UNC-TN would make more sense sense UT doesn't have a yearly ACC rival. And yes I know UT backed out on us, but maybe they wouldn't if ESPN applied a little pressure this time around.
I forgot about TN. You're right that they might try that. I would rather play SC instead of seeing that "orange" color TN wears. Seriously, is there a worse color than that? The game between Clemson and SC would make it harder to fit in, but I was thinking more along the lines of playing them every 4-5 years. That would be about the same as them being in the Atlantic division.
A couple more things about the network.
John Swofford on rights fees from ESPN: "There will be a bump in these next years until we get to the linear channel."
Also:
Wasserman Media Group consultant Dean Jordan and ESPN president John Skipper were among the legions whom the conference gathered Thursday at its annual football kickoff to confirm and fete the network’s creation, a collaboration with ESPN.
“If the network performs even moderately,” Jordan said, “it will put the ACC in a situation where they’ll be very, very competitive financially with the upper tier of the collegiate industry.”
John Swofford on rights fees from ESPN: "There will be a bump in these next years until we get to the linear channel."
Also:
Wasserman Media Group consultant Dean Jordan and ESPN president John Skipper were among the legions whom the conference gathered Thursday at its annual football kickoff to confirm and fete the network’s creation, a collaboration with ESPN.
“If the network performs even moderately,” Jordan said, “it will put the ACC in a situation where they’ll be very, very competitive financially with the upper tier of the collegiate industry.”
New annual games idea
UNC-TN
VaTech-Auburn
Duke-Vandy
NCSU- Miss State
Pitt- WVU
Syr- Northwestern
Vir- Maryland
BC-Rutgers
Mia- Ga
WF- Purdue
The Big Ten network is Fox based. Obviously, ESPN gains if the ACC and SEC play even more games vs. each other, because they all are part of the ESPN package.
That is the financial reason it works best for ESPN and the ACC and SEC to play more often, in basketball and baseball as well.
