Let's say ESPN says "nope" to extending the ACC past 2027. Could the ACC take control of their network and possibly get CBS Sports, Peacock or someone else to pick it up? If this cannot be done will this open up the ACC to be raided by the Big12?

What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I thought it was a 50-50 partnership. No matter, as I understand each member has their own production equipment in which they paid for themselves. If ESPN pulls the plug, can the ACCN be picked up by another network?

Each ACC school has its own HDTV production studio
The main studio in Connecticutt belongs to ESPN

If ESPN decided for some reason to walk away from a guaranteed $150M+ profit every year, the ACC would be ready to produce the same sports for CW, Amazon, or whoever.

But that ain't likely to happen.

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I read this board but don’t post much if at all. Yes, you are spot on. The ACC and ESPN are partners with the ACC Network channel and is a significant advantage to the ACC over the B12 and is a profitable asset to ESPN. The odds of ESPN walking away in 2027 is next to zero unless all hell breaks loose which is unlikely.

People are very unaware it seems in general around these matters. ESPN is very unlikely to walk away from the ACC IMO but why would ESPN walk away from a very profitable partnership?

(02-27-2024 10:56 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Each ACC school has its own HDTV production studio
The main studio in Connecticutt belongs to ESPN

If ESPN decided for some reason to walk away from a guaranteed $150M+ profit every year, the ACC would be ready to produce the same sports for CW, Amazon, or whoever.

But that ain't likely to happen.

The voice of reason.

(02-27-2024 08:38 PM)Garrettabc Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I thought it was a 50-50 partnership. No matter, as I understand each member has their own production equipment in which they paid for themselves. If ESPN pulls the plug, can the ACCN be picked up by another network?

ESPN owns 100% of the ACCN (IIRC - ESPN also owns 100% of the SECN; while Fox owns at least 60% of the BTN). Even though the entity is known as the ACC Network, it actually belongs to ESPN (and the larger Disney corporation). The fallacy in this theoretical, is about IP…the content providers (individual universities that collaborate as the ACC) don’t own the network.

Regardless of the ACCN ownership interest, the ESPN-ACC media contract provides a 50-50 split of the profits generated by the ACCN. For perspective: if the ACC distributed $11M per member and the ACC split its profits by 16 shares (15 schools + 1 share for conference administration), then the ACCN likely generated over $350M in aggregate profits during FY2022-23. Even with intense cord cutting headwinds in the cable industry, ESPN is still aggressively growing the profits of the ACCN. The recent announcement of a venture between ESPN-Fox Sports-Warner Bros is just another attempt to transition from cable-to-streaming without massive disruptions to revenue streams.

To your broader probable question, (IMHO) I doubt that any media conglomerate would invest in building a new dedicated college conference network. There is too much uncertainty and transformation in the industry.

(02-28-2024 12:35 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:38 PM)Garrettabc Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I thought it was a 50-50 partnership. No matter, as I understand each member has their own production equipment in which they paid for themselves. If ESPN pulls the plug, can the ACCN be picked up by another network?

ESPN owns 100% of the ACCN (IIRC - ESPN also owns 100% of the SECN; while Fox owns at least 60% of the BTN). Even though the entity is known as the ACC Network, it actually belongs to ESPN (and the larger Disney corporation). The fallacy in this theoretical, is about IP…the content providers (individual universities that collaborate as the ACC) don’t own the network.

Regardless of the ACCN ownership interest, the ESPN-ACC media contract provides a 50-50 split of the profits generated by the ACCN. For perspective: if the ACC distributed $11M per member and the ACC split its profits by 16 shares (15 schools + 1 share for conference administration), then the ACCN likely generated over $350M in aggregate profits during FY2022-23. Even with intense cord cutting headwinds in the cable industry, ESPN is still aggressively growing the profits of the ACCN. The recent announcement of a venture between ESPN-Fox Sports-Warner Bros is just another attempt to transition from cable-to-streaming without massive disruptions to revenue streams.

To your broader probable question, (IMHO) I doubt that any media conglomerate would invest in building a new dedicated college conference network. There is too much uncertainty and transformation in the industry.

What, exactly, does it mean to "own the network"? If the ACC schools own nearly all of the broadcasting equipment and have the in-house expertise to use it, and if the media rights were to revert back to the ACC... what would ESPN still own besides a studio in CT?

a

(02-28-2024 01:57 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 12:35 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:38 PM)Garrettabc Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I thought it was a 50-50 partnership. No matter, as I understand each member has their own production equipment in which they paid for themselves. If ESPN pulls the plug, can the ACCN be picked up by another network?

ESPN owns 100% of the ACCN (IIRC - ESPN also owns 100% of the SECN; while Fox owns at least 60% of the BTN). Even though the entity is known as the ACC Network, it actually belongs to ESPN (and the larger Disney corporation). The fallacy in this theoretical, is about IP…the content providers (individual universities that collaborate as the ACC) don’t own the network.

Regardless of the ACCN ownership interest, the ESPN-ACC media contract provides a 50-50 split of the profits generated by the ACCN. For perspective: if the ACC distributed $11M per member and the ACC split its profits by 16 shares (15 schools + 1 share for conference administration), then the ACCN likely generated over $350M in aggregate profits during FY2022-23. Even with intense cord cutting headwinds in the cable industry, ESPN is still aggressively growing the profits of the ACCN. The recent announcement of a venture between ESPN-Fox Sports-Warner Bros is just another attempt to transition from cable-to-streaming without massive disruptions to revenue streams.

To your broader probable question, (IMHO) I doubt that any media conglomerate would invest in building a new dedicated college conference network. There is too much uncertainty and transformation in the industry.

What, exactly, does it mean to "own the network"? If the ACC schools own nearly all of the broadcasting equipment and have the in-house expertise to use it, and if the media rights were to revert back to the ACC... what would ESPN still own besides a studio in CT?

The contracts with all the satellite, cable, and streaming companies that pay for broadcasting the network, that is what. You want to know what the ACCN would look like without ESPN, see the Pac-12 Network.

(02-28-2024 02:11 PM)CrazyPaco Wrote:  a

(02-28-2024 01:57 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 12:35 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:38 PM)Garrettabc Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I thought it was a 50-50 partnership. No matter, as I understand each member has their own production equipment in which they paid for themselves. If ESPN pulls the plug, can the ACCN be picked up by another network?

ESPN owns 100% of the ACCN (IIRC - ESPN also owns 100% of the SECN; while Fox owns at least 60% of the BTN). Even though the entity is known as the ACC Network, it actually belongs to ESPN (and the larger Disney corporation). The fallacy in this theoretical, is about IP…the content providers (individual universities that collaborate as the ACC) don’t own the network.

Regardless of the ACCN ownership interest, the ESPN-ACC media contract provides a 50-50 split of the profits generated by the ACCN. For perspective: if the ACC distributed $11M per member and the ACC split its profits by 16 shares (15 schools + 1 share for conference administration), then the ACCN likely generated over $350M in aggregate profits during FY2022-23. Even with intense cord cutting headwinds in the cable industry, ESPN is still aggressively growing the profits of the ACCN. The recent announcement of a venture between ESPN-Fox Sports-Warner Bros is just another attempt to transition from cable-to-streaming without massive disruptions to revenue streams.

To your broader probable question, (IMHO) I doubt that any media conglomerate would invest in building a new dedicated college conference network. There is too much uncertainty and transformation in the industry.

What, exactly, does it mean to "own the network"? If the ACC schools own nearly all of the broadcasting equipment and have the in-house expertise to use it, and if the media rights were to revert back to the ACC... what would ESPN still own besides a studio in CT?

The contracts with all the satellite, cable, and streaming companies that pay for broadcasting the network, that is what. You want to know what the ACCN would look like without ESPN, see the Pac-12 Network.

No doubt -- that's why you need a middle man. The most important part of any business is sales. You can create the best widget, but it does not good unless you can sell it!

ESPN is the best, but not the only, middle man.

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

Actually the ACC Network is 80% Disney, 20% Hearst Communications.

(02-28-2024 01:57 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 12:35 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:38 PM)Garrettabc Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 08:20 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  What are you smoking the The ACC Network is owned by ESPN with revenues and costs split with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The carriage agreements are tied to Walt Disney.

ESPN & the ACC are partners with the ACC Network

I thought it was a 50-50 partnership. No matter, as I understand each member has their own production equipment in which they paid for themselves. If ESPN pulls the plug, can the ACCN be picked up by another network?

ESPN owns 100% of the ACCN (IIRC - ESPN also owns 100% of the SECN; while Fox owns at least 60% of the BTN). Even though the entity is known as the ACC Network, it actually belongs to ESPN (and the larger Disney corporation). The fallacy in this theoretical, is about IP…the content providers (individual universities that collaborate as the ACC) don’t own the network.

Regardless of the ACCN ownership interest, the ESPN-ACC media contract provides a 50-50 split of the profits generated by the ACCN. For perspective: if the ACC distributed $11M per member and the ACC split its profits by 16 shares (15 schools + 1 share for conference administration), then the ACCN likely generated over $350M in aggregate profits during FY2022-23. Even with intense cord cutting headwinds in the cable industry, ESPN is still aggressively growing the profits of the ACCN. The recent announcement of a venture between ESPN-Fox Sports-Warner Bros is just another attempt to transition from cable-to-streaming without massive disruptions to revenue streams.

To your broader probable question, (IMHO) I doubt that any media conglomerate would invest in building a new dedicated college conference network. There is too much uncertainty and transformation in the industry.

What, exactly, does it mean to "own the network"? If the ACC schools own nearly all of the broadcasting equipment and have the in-house expertise to use it, and if the media rights were to revert back to the ACC... what would ESPN still own besides a studio in CT?

Distribution. It would be similar to the Pac-12 is that you have the equipment but nowhere to broadcast the content. Unlike the B1G the ACC cannot sell off piece of the network because they do not own it. And while the ACC schools provide the in-house expertise the ACC would have to fully fund distribution, marketing, media operations and various revenue streams and without a major distributor you run into a Pac-12 Network-type issue.

It's possible ESPN could retain the ACCN and only carry the worst of the worst games there while other games are on CBS, NBC, FOX, etc etc.

It just isn't very likely to ever be the case.

(02-28-2024 03:44 PM)CatsClaw1 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 01:57 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  What, exactly, does it mean to "own the network"? If the ACC schools own nearly all of the broadcasting equipment and have the in-house expertise to use it, and if the media rights were to revert back to the ACC... what would ESPN still own besides a studio in CT?

Distribution. It would be similar to the Pac-12 is that you have the equipment but nowhere to broadcast the content. Unlike the B1G the ACC cannot sell off piece of the network because they do not own it. And while the ACC schools provide the in-house expertise the ACC would have to fully fund distribution, marketing, media operations and various revenue streams and without a major distributor you run into a Pac-12 Network-type issue.

That's it. Theoretically, if ESPN chose not to sustain the network any more, branding rights would revert to the conference which could then put its brand on (what would really be) any new network it created.

In real life, the league would want to acquire more than just its branding rights back. It would probably want to sustain something of that distribution system (for itself or a new media partner) rather than let it die and start over. And that would mean buying some resources off ESPN if the network is selling.

Before things got that tumultuous, I'd expect ESPN to make some grander proposal that folds or merges the ACCN into a larger entity that serves more than the league's 15 schools.