The worst case scenario is ESPN says screw the ACCN, here ACC is your modest bump in payments and we have you by the nads 'til the contract expires.

So how do you get ESPN to the table now for a legit ACCN? One way is to threaten to cut them off from even having that option...basically you make it obvious that someone is going to get that network, even if it doesn't significantly boost our revenue in the short term and it won't happen for several years. Does ESPN want a competitor in the ACC footprint? Can even a small network start getting a foothold where there will someday be a large one. Is Fox or NBC willing to purchase a right of first refusal for when the ESPN contract expires or otherwise help underwrite that development?

I don't think ESPN wants to give up on college sports in the east. I think they will put together a legit ACCN.