Possible expanded ACC TV Deal payout....

[Majin Buu]

Somehow I expected a little more from ESPN, but the ACC did just sign a 12 year deal with ESPN. I guess they will have to rely on Raycom/ the Digital Network to increase their coffers further.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/J...es/ACC-TV.aspx

[Birds of B'more]

The Raycom portion of the deal is actually ESPN sub-licensing to them, I believe. If so, then there's no negotiating for the ACC to do there. While I think the ACC settled too quickly for ESPN's offer two years ago and should have explored more creative options, all things considered I don't think it's too bad that each school will get an extra $1-2 million. Especially considering that's after the money is split 14 ways instead of 12.

[Majin Buu]

The Raycom portion of the deal is actually ESPN sub-licensing to them, I believe. If so, then there's no negotiating for the ACC to do there. While I think the ACC settled too quickly for ESPN's offer two years ago and should have explored more creative options, all things considered I don't think it's too bad that each school will get an extra $1-2 million. Especially considering that's after the money is split 14 ways instead of 12.

Looks like the real payoff will be when this contract is over. At least the current contract would only potentially be extended 3 years with the addition of Syracuse and Pitt. This kind of begs the question as to why didn't they expand when the television contract expired.

[Birds of B'more]

Looks like the real payoff will be when this contract is over. At least the current contract would only potentially be extended 3 years with the addition of Syracuse and Pitt. This kind of begs the question as to why didn't they expand when the television contract expired.

Even without expansion, if the ACC had just been a little more forward-thinking then they could have done better. Why they simply jumped at ESPN's first offer during the exclusive negotiating window rather than let it go to open bidding, where FOX and Comcast certainly would have been interested and raised the bidding, is beyond me. And handing the rights to everything to ESPN? Why didn't they keep some games and just negotiate with Raycom themselves? Then they could be negotiating two increases now instead of one. I've never liked John Swofford as a commissioner, and he certainly didn't change my opinion this time.