1. The ACC Digital Network has more subscibers then any other conference. Yes more then the B1G, SEC, Big XII & Pac 12.
2. The ACC with the fact that ESPN already has most of the ACC content doesn't have to buy back all the 3rd Tier Rights that they had to do with the SEC. That was one of the major hurdles that ESPN had with the SEC Network...buying back the Tier 3 Rights from other Networks/Schools in the SEC.

Expect the ACC Network to be sooner rather then later.

So how do they get the Raycom content back? Let that agreement expire?

With the SEC Network, they won't have the package of football or basketball games that air on regional FSNs for the 1st year. ESPN elected to let that agreement expire instead of buying it back. Their agreement with Comcast's CSS was one year shorter than the FOX agreement.

I thought the only thing that Raycom Sports produced right now was ACC content. Wouldn't it make sense to purchase them as a unit instead of starting from scratch? Presumably people will have to be hired, real estate secured, cameras and computer equipment purchased etc. Buying Raycom Sports would be like getting a head start on a lot of that and gaining employees with a good working knowledge of their product in addition to making any potential contract conflicts disappear.

Oh, and it is already in Charlotte with ESPNU and ESPNSEC.

Another thing, Raycom owns the Belk Bowl. ESPN loves to own bowl games.

(05-08-2013 05:37 PM)4x4hokies Wrote:  I thought the only thing that Raycom Sports produced right now was ACC content. Wouldn't it make sense to purchase them as a unit instead of starting from scratch? Presumably people will have to be hired, real estate secured, cameras and computer equipment purchased etc. Buying Raycom Sports would be like getting a head start on a lot of that and gaining employees with a good working knowledge of their product in addition to making any potential contract conflicts disappear.

Oh, and it is already in Charlotte with ESPNU and ESPNSEC.

Another thing, Raycom owns the Belk Bowl. ESPN loves to own bowl games.

Raycom sold the Belk Bowl in 2010 to a non-profit group in Charlotte per the Belk Bowl media guide.

They could certainly buy Raycom, but if the agreement to sublicense content to them lasts only five years, for example, why bother?

Raycom Sports does a decent amount of business besides the ACC because they own uplink & production trucks. They produce the Carolina Panthers preseason games and their equipment is used by FOX Sports South quite a bit. They also do that "Football Saturdays in the South" summer series

(05-08-2013 05:42 PM)mattsarz Wrote:  

(05-08-2013 05:37 PM)4x4hokies Wrote:  I thought the only thing that Raycom Sports produced right now was ACC content. Wouldn't it make sense to purchase them as a unit instead of starting from scratch? Presumably people will have to be hired, real estate secured, cameras and computer equipment purchased etc. Buying Raycom Sports would be like getting a head start on a lot of that and gaining employees with a good working knowledge of their product in addition to making any potential contract conflicts disappear.

Oh, and it is already in Charlotte with ESPNU and ESPNSEC.

Another thing, Raycom owns the Belk Bowl. ESPN loves to own bowl games.

Raycom sold the Belk Bowl in 2010 to a non-profit group in Charlotte per the Belk Bowl media guide.

They could certainly buy Raycom, but if the agreement to sublicense content to them lasts only five years, for example, why bother?

Raycom Sports does a decent amount of business besides the ACC because they own uplink & production trucks. They produce the Carolina Panthers preseason games and their equipment is used by FOX Sports South quite a bit. They also do that "Football Saturdays in the South" summer series

I have not heard about the agreement only lasting 5 years.

Seems to me though that the Raycom Sports business right now is built predominately around producing ACC sports. If that contract is about to expire then their value will decrease significantly I would think. I think if the price were right it'd be the easiest way to start a network.

(05-08-2013 05:51 PM)4x4hokies Wrote:  

(05-08-2013 05:42 PM)mattsarz Wrote:  

(05-08-2013 05:37 PM)4x4hokies Wrote:  I thought the only thing that Raycom Sports produced right now was ACC content. Wouldn't it make sense to purchase them as a unit instead of starting from scratch? Presumably people will have to be hired, real estate secured, cameras and computer equipment purchased etc. Buying Raycom Sports would be like getting a head start on a lot of that and gaining employees with a good working knowledge of their product in addition to making any potential contract conflicts disappear.

Oh, and it is already in Charlotte with ESPNU and ESPNSEC.

Another thing, Raycom owns the Belk Bowl. ESPN loves to own bowl games.

Raycom sold the Belk Bowl in 2010 to a non-profit group in Charlotte per the Belk Bowl media guide.

They could certainly buy Raycom, but if the agreement to sublicense content to them lasts only five years, for example, why bother?

Raycom Sports does a decent amount of business besides the ACC because they own uplink & production trucks. They produce the Carolina Panthers preseason games and their equipment is used by FOX Sports South quite a bit. They also do that "Football Saturdays in the South" summer series

I have not heard about the agreement only lasting 5 years.

Seems to me though that the Raycom Sports business right now is built predominately around producing ACC sports. If that contract is about to expire then their value will decrease significantly I would think. I think if the price were right it'd be the easiest way to start a network.

I used five years as a hypothetical hence "for example". I don't know if it extends through the entire length or a smaller time period, like the SEC sublicense agreements did.

(05-08-2013 05:57 PM)mattsarz Wrote:  I used five years as a hypothetical hence "for example". I don't know if it extends through the entire length or a smaller time period, like the SEC sublicense agreements did.

I got the impression when reading the ESPN releases that it was written into the deal with ESPN for the length of that contract.

There is alot of partnering envisioned with and are providing for ACC with Raycom.

RAYCOM has a great infrastructure invested for all digital formats. They have the expertise, equipment all set to interface with ESPN and any proposed ACC Network. Also, their capabilities can be leverage for the SEC network as well.

ESPN can generate alot of revenue by partnering with RAYCOM instead of building their own capabilities. This includes personnel cost, extra equipment and IT systems.

THis is why ACC NETWORK, once the details are worked out with the conference will stand up quickly and also why ACC reveneue is going to be much more than the 5 million per school. I also expect due to this partnership, ACC might get exclusivity for one of the existing EXPN networks (either ESPN classic or ESPN U.

(05-08-2013 06:14 PM)4x4hok

ies Wrote:  

(05-08-2013 05:57 PM)mattsarz Wrote:  I used five years as a hypothetical hence "for example". I don't know if it extends through the entire length or a smaller time period, like the SEC sublicense agreements did.

I got the impression when reading the ESPN releases that it was written into the deal with ESPN for the length of that contract.