The launch of an ACC network run in partnership with ESPN, which "has been expected" for '17, will "likely take longer" than thought, according to Ken Sugiura of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson said that ESPN has "asked for the delay." The conference and network have "discussed partnering on a dedicated ACC channel at least five years." Peterson: "(ESPN) had come back and said that in some of the other instances where (conference) networks have started, they lost considerable amounts of money in the first couple of years. What they’d like to do is delay the start for a couple years and do the necessary preparation." He added that ESPN in exchange for a later start date "could make additional payments on top of the rights fees already paid to the conference." The conference signed an extension with ESPN in '12 to continue their partnership through the '26-27 academic year. The ACC reportedly received $197.2M in TV revenues in '13-14, but the average distribution of $19.3M "lagged behind" the Big Ten's $26.4M, Pac-12's $21M, SEC's $20.9M and Big 12's $19.8M. This disparity is "a significant reason why the ACC and member schools are interested in their own network" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/30). ACC Commissioner John Swofford in a statement said, "Anything said surrounding our ongoing television discussions is premature and speculative. If, or when, we reach a point where our television agreements have been altered, we will make an announcement at the appropriate time" (DAILYPRESS.com, 10/30).
