ESPN/ACC Extend Multi-Platform Rights Agreement Through 2026-2027

http://sportsmediajournal.com/ The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and ESPN have announced an extension to the network’s exclusive multi-platform rights agreement through the 2026-2027 academic year. The expanded deal will provide ESPN with more title sponsorship rights, more men’s regular-season and conference tournament basketball games, more conference football games, and dozens more Olympic sports competitions. The deal will provide premier content to numerous ESPN multimedia platforms, including ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN2, WatchESPN.com, ESPNU, ESPN3, ESPN 3D, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Buzzer Beater/Goal Line, ESPN International, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Classic and ESPN.com. With the addition of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the conference, ESPN will be telecasting 30 more men’s college basketball games and 14 football games per season. “This expansion and extension of our exclusive agreement brings tremendous value to our company and to ACC fans everywhere” said John Skipper, president, ESPN and co-chair, Disney Media Networks in a press release. ”We look forward to showcasing this premier conference across all platforms through 2027.” “We are excited to have further enhanced our partnership with ESPN through the extension of our multimedia contract,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “We are proud that ESPN has invested so deeply in the ACC both from a resource and exposure standpoint. As we look to the future, this relationship will be tremendous for our schools, fans, coaches and student-athletes.” ESPN has been televising ACC content since 1979. Here are some of the key provisions of the extended deal: Football on national TV: Extensive regular-season action on Saturday afternoon and nights, primetime Thursdays, three Fridays including Thanksgiving Friday, Labor Day Monday and the ACC Football Championship Game; Men’s basketball on national TV: The most comprehensive coverage of regular-season games and the entire conference tournament produced and distributed via ESPN; regular-season matchups of the storied Duke-North Carolina rivalry each year; full national telecasts on all games televised on an ESPN platform; a weekly ACC Sunday Night Basketball franchise on ESPNU; Women’s basketball: Numerous women’s regular-season basketball games and the entire conference tournament; Olympic sports: An extensive commitment to the league’s soon to be 23-sponsored Olympic sports with regular-season and championship telecasts, highlighted by baseball, softball, lacrosse, and men’s and women’s soccer; Digital media: Exclusive ACC football, men’s and women’s basketball, and Olympic sports games as well as simulcasts on ESPN3. Live ACC games, including football and basketball, on ESPN Mobile TV; ESPN 3D: Select live ACC action on ESPN 3D; Additional outlets: Select ACC action on ESPN International, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes; and extensive content rights for ESPN.com.