ACC & ESPN Agree to Launch Network

Mark BlankenbakerJuly 18, 2016

The long rumored & awaited ACC Network is nearly here. ESPN’s Brett McMurphy and other media monitoring outlets reported on the news on Monday evening.

This August (2016) the deal will begin with a digital only ‘ACC Network Plus’ to be followed in 2019 by the ACC Network.

The deal will last 20 years with a rights & grant of rights extension that will last through the 2035-36 athletic seasons. The rights & grant of rights agreement provides stability to the conference during this time as it would create too much of a burden for any school to leave.

Notre Dame’s agreement is also automatically extended through 2035-36 as a member in all sports (except football). If ND decides to join a conference during this time the Irish must join the ACC.

Commissioner John Swofford will speak on the subject Thursday morning at the opening of the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, NC (TheCrunchZone.com will be in attendance).

With the turmoil that has happened in college athletics over the past 20 years Louisville has found the perfect landing spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The addition of a television network on further emboldeneds the conference’s position and by default the Louisville athletics program.