ACC Network Update

Great reporting from https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/


https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2019/09/updated-accn-subs-compared-to-secn.html

With the addition of Cox Communications, here's where the ACC Network stands in terms of subscribers with the ACCN channel available to them:

Distributor	subs*
DirectTV	18.7
Charter/Spectrum	15.8
Dish Network	9.6
Verizon/FiOS	5.7
Altice/Optimum	4.6
Sling TV	2.4
Hulu TV	2
YouTube TV	1
PlayStation Vue	0.8
Cox	4.5
Total Subs	65.1 M

Here's how that compares to the SEC Network at launch:

Distributor	subs*
Dish Network	14
AT&T Uverse	5.7
Cox Comm.	6
Comcast	21.7
Time Warner*	11.4
DirecTV	20.2
Mediacom	0.95
Verizon Fios	5.2
Total Subs.	85 M

* NOTE: all subscriber numbers are in millions.

Biggest reason for the higher number: SECN had Comcast, ACCN still doesn't.

On the other hand, if/when the ACCN does get Comcast on board, the number will jump from 65.1 million to 87.2 million - at which point the ACC would be ahead of the SEC in its first year.

https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/acc-network-carriage-deal-cox.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

This deal means ACC Network could reach as many as 52 million subscribers altogether now.

The last few weeks have seen some very good news for the new ACC Network on the carriage front, with deals with Charter, Dish/Sling TV, and now Cox. ESPN announced Wednesday that Cox has signed on to carry the network:

The addition of Cox’s subscribers here also means that ACC Network now has deals with companies that collectively cover around 52 million potential subscribers (not all subscribers to a company will automatically get ACC Network, as that depends on the company’s package deals and where ACC Network is placed), putting them close to the estimates for the more-established Big Ten Network and SEC Network (55 and 59 million respectively). And that further adds to optimism about the network and what it can mean for the conference.

https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2019/08/update-accn-subscribers.html

Here's your updated TV providers/subscription numbers for the ACC Network as of 8/30/2019:

Distributor	Renewal	subs*
DirectTV	signed	18.7
Charter/Spectrum	signed	15.8
Dish Network	signed	9.6
Verizon/FiOS	signed	5.7
Altice/Optimum	signed	4.6
Sling TV	signed	2.4
Hulu TV	signed	2.0
YouTube TV	signed	1.0
PlayStation Vue	signed	0.8
TOTAL SIGNED UP		60.6
ATT Uverse	2019	3.7
Comcast	2022	22.1
Cox	?	4.5
ATT TV Now	?	1.5
Frontier	?	1.3
Mediacom	?	0.8
Windstream	?	0.4
RCN	?	0.3
Cable ONE	?	0.3
TOTAL NOT SIGNED UP		34.9

As you can see, over 60 million have access to the ACCN already. The only holdout of real significance (in the ACC footprint) is Comcast/Xfinity.

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article234548272.html

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s new television network was supposed to create more exposure for the league’s athletic programs.

Instead, most of South Florida and the nation have been left in the dark.

Barring a last minute agreement between ESPN and South Florida’s two biggest cable operators, most of South Florida will be unable to watch either of the Hurricanes’ next two games on television — Saturday at North Carolina and Sept. 14 at home against Bethune Cookman.

ESPN, which distributes and operates ACC Network, has been unable to strike carriage agreements with Comcast/Xfinity and AT&T Uverse, the primary cable distributors in South Florida. ESPN spokeswoman Kerri Potts said negotiations are ongoing with both.

Comcast spokesman John Demming declined to say anything on the matter beyond the obvious: “We don’t have an agreement.”

An executive with one of those two cable companies, who asked not to be quoted because he did not want to inflame the situation, said ESPN is asking for “a significant amount of money” from cable operators to carry the new channel - more than what some cable operators believe is justified.

That executive said his company asked ESPN to place ACC Network on a sports tier — requiring extra payment from only viewers that want the channel — but ESPN refused.

That executive also pointed out that most of the games on ACC Network were either available on free television last season or through ESPN plus, a video streaming subscription service.

Potts, responding to all of that, said: “We’ve successfully completed numerous distribution agreements based upon market rates. I remind you that we have multiple national providers distributing ACCN. All residents across Florida have a minimum of five separate options to subscribe to ACCN (DirecTV, DISH, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV and Sony Playstation Vue).”

Google Fiber, Optimum and Fios also have deals with ACC Network.

ACC Network launched Aug. 22 with availability in about 37 million of the nation’s 120 million TV households. That’s comparable to the initial penetration of several conference networks in previous launches, but the problem is that several ACC hubs, including South Florida and Atlanta, have hundreds of thousands of homes without access to the channel.

And also keep this in mind: You will be unable to watch ACC Network games through Watch ESPN or on a computer or handheld device unless your TV service has a deal for ACC Network, per an ESPN spokesperson.

UM athletic director Blake James (through Twitter) and coach Manny Diaz (through a video message) have encouraged people to contact their cable operators to implore them to add ACC Network.

To this point, viewer pressure hasn’t worked.

James, asked if he’s frustrated about ACC Network not being available in more homes locally, said: “The immediate and long term benefits of the ACC Network are significant to the University of Miami. Similar to the launch of other networks, some providers are late to the game and that’s the case here in South Florida.

“With that said, and unlike in previous network launches, there are numerous national providers that carry ACCN. Fans have the ability to switch to DirectTV, Dish, YouTube TV, Hulu Plus or PlayStation Vue immediately to access not only football and basketball but all of our sports and programming that ACCN features. At the end of the day, all providers have the ability to carry ACCN and it’s unfortunate that some, especially Comcast and AT&T U-verse here in South Florida, have not yet signed up to provide ACCN to its customers.”

.@accnetwork reaches roughly 48 million subscribers with new deals https://t.co/a5ftqGBicb

— CollegeAD (@collegead) August 30, 2019