One of the most storied conferences in college sports won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and ESPN are doubling down on their long-standing partnership, ensuring that fans will have access to top-tier conference action through the 2035-36 academic year.“We appreciate the ongoing partnership with ESPN and their enduring commitment that further solidifies the ACC as a premier league in all facets,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “The extension showcases the importance of our long-standing relationship, and I want to personally thank the entire ESPN team for their leadership and dedication to our collective future. In addition, I want to thank our ACC Board of Directors who have been involved throughout this entire process. The resolve from both parties to further enhance the partnership through innovation and creativity to continue to drive additional value remains our top priority.”The ACC and ESPN agreed on a 20-year deal back in 2016, which would’ve allowed the network to opt out in 2027. This renewal cements a relationship that has shaped the landscape of college sports for decades, delivering unforgettable matchups, in-depth analysis, and all the moments that make ACC athletics special.For more than 35 years, ESPN and the ACC have built a strong partnership, culminating in the launch of ACC Network in August 2019. As a joint venture between ESPN and the ACC, ACC Network stands as one of just three fully distributed national conference networks, bringing fans exclusive coverage of their favorite teams and athletes.“We are pleased to extend our media rights agreement with the ACC through 2036, continuing our longstanding relationship,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. “We remain committed to serving the ACC, its member schools, student athletes and fans via comprehensive live game coverage, storytelling and broad exposure across our unprecedented array of networks and platforms, including ACC Network. The ACC is a pillar of ESPN’s leading commitment to college sports and we are thrilled to continue the partnership over the next decade.”The ACC expanded to its current lineup of 18 members in 12 states after Stanford and California joined the conference as part of the Pac 12’s mass exodus, and SMU joined from The American. With its expansion, the conference has been attempting to satisfy members who have thought about leaving for greener pastures due to the revenue disparities compared to the SEC and Big Ten.ESPN reported that Miami, North Carolina, Clemson, and Florid State, would benefit the most if a new revenue distribution model is finalized and the latter two schools are expected to drop their lawsuits against the conference. In those lawsuits, FSU and Clemson want the conference to lower its exit fees by the conclusion of the 2031 season when the media rights deals for the Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 are set to expire.For now, fans of schools in the ACC can stream live games and events on ESPN’s family of networks for the foreseeable future on ESPN+, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.
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