A month ago we asked where ACC games, that previously were on Bally’s Sports would end up.
We know the answer now.
The CW Network has secured exclusive broadcast rights to 50 ACC college football and basketball games each season through 2026-27.@TheCW acquired the rights to these live games from Raycom Sports who sublicenses the rights from ESPN.
????????: https://t.co/B1wBQSR9I8 pic.twitter.com/oAZWpwL1f4
— The ACC (@theACC) July 13, 2023
Two questions instantly come to mind. Is ACC exposure better? Does the ACC get a revenue increase?
From an exposure perspective, it’s a pretty significant improvement. Previously this had been one of the biggest complaints from ACC fans. Ballys Sports wasn’t available across the ACC viewing area, and then that created confusing regional blackouts if the games were supposedly somewhere on ESPN’s family of networks.
CW is available over the air, on cables, and in 100% of US Television homes.
Now what about revenue?
My understanding is this doesn’t change the financials of the current deal.
— David Teel (@ByDavidTeel) July 14, 2023
Well, there you go. If the esteemed @ByDavidTeel understands there is no increase, there is probably no increase.
That said there is a potential revenue aspect to this. If these rights didn’t have value, Raycom would not have found a buyer in such a short period of time. When the deal ends in 2027, Raycom will no longer own those rights. I don’t see any way the ACC/ESPN extends that deal. As we’ve said before…
This could be the termination of an ugly deal that wasn’t set to end until 2027. It’s been noted that $3 Million per year goes to ACC schools at that time – originally reported by the New and Observer via ACCPerscription. Obviously, that doesn’t solve all the ACC’s financial issues, but $3 Million is $3 Million.
At the end of the day though revenue trumps exposure, and we’re still waiting on something and anything regarding even incremental revenue increases for the ACC.
