I think the only way an ACCN comes out is if ESPN re-brand ESPNNEWS (more likely) or ESPNU as the ACCN. The problem is I am not sure how the ACC can get 50/50 share? Unless they buy into it...
The reason for this is simple before the SECN there were 80 SEC games shown on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU after the SECN there are only 45 games, meaning 35 holes were filled on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU by other Conf other then the SEC. After the new BIG Deal ESPN will air 25 football games annually, far fewer then in the past, so ESPN has even more holes to fill..
How does ESPN fill those holes... ACC games, AAC, and CUSA games on and on... The Bottomline is unless ESPN wants to create an ACC Network there will be no Network!!! I mean the ACC gave all rights T1 thru T3 and ESPN has yet to move forward, in fact they have just asked for a delay!! So at some point I hope ESPN will realize that ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPNNEWS are to many channels to have without the games that the SEC and BIG and they decide they can make money by re-branding current channel into an ACCN.
I also can see ESPN pushing the ACC for ND to join before this happens, however if the ACC will grow a pair and be willing to walk away and not package all rights as a bundle ever again to ESPN unless it is in writing that there will be a network... they will be able to do a BIG like deal for the ACC with NBC and ESPN in 2026... Also I could see NBC re-branding the NBCSPN as the ACC Network to get all of the ACC rights to go with ND in 2026... Again the ACC would have to buy into the current channel as it already exist. but NBC has re-branded that channel over the years.. and might do it to get all of the TV rights... Might not be a bad move, since ESPN has spat in the ACC face thus far...
The only scary part of all of this is that the Wasserman Media Group was brought on board to consult with the ACC’s athletic directors on future TV Network plans. Dean Jordan in WMG’s Raleigh, N.C., office will lead the agency’s relationship with the conference. He also consulted with the ACC when it renegotiated its current TV contract with ESPN. (THIS IS SCARY AS I THINK THE CURRENT TV DEAL IS BAD>>> NO WONDER THERE IS NO ACCN YET>>> THEY ARE GETTING ADVICE FROM THE WRONG PEOPLE!!)
LINK
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journ...s/ACC.aspx