This hodgepodge of a league has created the problems we now face. We have publics wanting one thing while private schools want another. Then we have traditional ACC schools versus the newbies and we have football factories versus bball schools. And don't even get me started about Tobacco Rd versus everyone else. Regrettably, it's the smaller private schools, or wannabe private schools, Tobacco Rd., and bball centric schools that will win out come decision making time. THAT's what history has shown us.

Anyhow, I predict July 1st will come and we will be told of a new "ACCNetwork brand." They will make it sound pretty cool as it will "reach across multiple platforms" and it will be "accessible" to millions of fans. It will have a neat new logo and all ACC Network programming will have it in the corner.

Reality is, this is no network at all because ESPN doesn't have the money to take a risk on this hodgepodge league right now. Persons will be able to watch ACC programming on Verizon phones and tablets, but one game will take up a month's worth of their data. Verizon LOVES that. And ESPN, or the entities it's sold games off to, already owns everything. They will pay the $3million per school and simply scatter ACC games around it's numerous, mostly the less than desirable channels that already exist. It's free programming for them at that point.

The result for the ACC will be the agreed upon 3 million and slightly more games on the ESPN channels, including the LHN and SECNetwork. One really good benefit could be a forced arrangement for ACC teams and SEC teams to compete more with each other in sports like bball. I wouldn't mind that.

Now the question is, will this be enough to keep FSU happy? It probably will. However, it may not keep some of the schools being courted by the B1G happy. I could see GT bolting. I hope like heck VT is lobbying for a B1G spot too. The B1G added Nebraska recently knowing they were going to lose AAU status, I hope VT's worth such an exception.

Anyhow, this is what not really having a network will look like for the ACC. The conference network gravy train has passed us by.

If I ran the league, I would bargain with ESPN to keep their 3 million in return for getting content back and start up my own ACCNetwork. I would use the Pac12 model. It is already making nearly 3 million per school despite being in a footprint a third of the ACC's size and having it's leaders make numerous mistakes. The ACC would be smart to learn from the Pac12's mistakes. Don't get in a standoff with DirectTV or DISH. Don't produce nearly double the games that the SECNetwork or B1G Network does. Make it truly one network and don't regionalize it the way they have. If the ACC does all these things, I feel it can and should be bringing in some decent money for its schools. Furthermore, as the cord cutting continues, such a network might even have the upper hand on the SEC and B1G Networks five to ten years from now.


[Post edited by chuckd4vt at 03/19/2016 1:25PM]