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Tuesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Prepare To Launch

  • ESPN Launching Digital ACC Offering Next Month, Linear Network In '19
  • IOC Mulls Russia's Status For Rio After Probe Reveals State-Run Doping
  • NBA Will Supply More Content To Twitter Under Renewed Deal
  • NBPA's Inaugural Tech Summit Led By Iguodala Begins Today In S.F.

ESPN Launching Digital ACC Offering Next Month, Linear Network In '19

By John Ourand and Michael Smith

ESPN will launch an ACC digital network next month called ACC Network Plus and a 24-hour linear channel in August '19 dubbed ACC Network, according to sources. Modeled on the SEC’s digital offering that ESPN launched two years ago, ACC Network Plus will be fully owned by ESPN and available to authenticated subscribers through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. ACC games that appear on ESPN3 will move to the digital ACC Network Plus.

At launch, the digital channel will carry at least 600 Olympic-style events per year, with individual schools producing an undetermined number of the events. When the linear channel launches in '19, it will carry at least 400 events, including 40 football and 150 men’s and women’s basketball games each year.

See more in today's issue of THE DAILY.

IOC Mulls Russia's Status For Rio After Probe Reveals State-Run Doping

The IOC is "holding emergency talks" today to "decide Russia's status for the Rio Olympics after an investigation found rampant state-run doping" at the '14 Sochi Games and other events. WADA "called for all Russian competitors and officials to be banned from next month's Games and other events." A probe by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren for WADA "found Russia's secret service helped 'the state-dictated failsafe system' carried out by the Moscow sports ministry and sprawling into 30 sports over five years" (AFP, 7/19). The IOC is "likely to hold off on making any major pronouncement until after Thursday, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport is scheduled to rule on a lawsuit on behalf of Russia’s track and field athletes contesting their ban from Rio" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/19).

USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes under the header, "Russia Must Be Kicked Out Of Rio Olympics." To allow Russia to compete in Rio is to "taint the entire Olympic Games." If the IOC and the Olympics "stand for anything, the Russian flag must not fly in Rio" (USA TODAY, 7/19). The N.Y. TIMES editorial board writes under the header, "Ban Russia From The Rio Olympics" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/19). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes, "Even by today's jaded standards, the Russia scandal is pretty bonkers" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/19).

NBA Will Supply More Content To Twitter Under Renewed Deal

By Eric Fisher

The NBA will double the amount of material it supplies to Twitter and subsidiaries Vine and Periscope under a renewed content partnership. Live games are not part of the newly expanded deal, but the pact will create a weekly NBA pregame show accessible only on Twitter to both logged-in and logged-out users, along with another to-be-determined exclusive show that will be announced prior to the start of the '16-17 regular season. The NBA also will expand its use of Twitter’s Amplify ad program, and continue initiatives such as #NBARapidReplay highlights and #PhantomCam player arrivals.

The deal was negotiated by multiple execs and divisions from both organizations before going to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Twitter co-Founder & CEO Jack Dorsey for final approval.

NBPA's Inaugural Tech Summit Led By Iguodala Begins Today In S.F.

The NBPA today tips off its inaugural Technology Summit in S.F., and the three-day event will provide current and former NBAers with educational content and presentations from execs of major media and tech companies. It also will include site visits to media and tech companies in Silicon Valley, networking opportunities and workshops designed to identify opportunities for players. Participating companies include Andreessen Horowitz, Jawbone and SV Angel (NBPA). Warriors F Andre Iguodala is "spearheading the summit." He has made "significant investments in the industry" since joining the Warriors in '13 (TECHTIMES.com, 7/6).

Tulane Extends Multimedia/Licensing Deal With IMG Through '26

Tulane today will announce an extension of its deal with IMG to manage its multimedia rights and licensing agreements through '26. The deal includes additional signage and naming-rights opportunities, as a well as a mutual agreement to fund a TV production and new media facility. IMG adds new assets, including signage opportunities at Tulane's Yulman Stadium football venue and Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse, its basketball facility (THE DAILY).

New Three-Bottle Set Of Wines Commemorates 76ers' NBA Titles

By Terry Lefton

The 76ers and Chaddsford Wineries today are releasing the first of a three-bottle set of wines commemorating the franchise’s three NBA titles. The first wine in the team's “Banner Series” is dedicated to the '82-83 NBA Championship Team and priced at $24.99, with 10% of the proceeds to be donated to the Sixers Youth Foundation.

Speed Reads....

Former Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer's newly founded Ringstar Sports yesterday was "granted a promoter's license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at the panel's monthly meeting" by a 5-0 vote (ESPN.com, 7/18).

Baxter Arena in Omaha will host the '17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for curling (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 7/19).

Former USWNT player Brandi Chastain has partnered with biopharmaceutical company AbbVie on My IBD Game Plan, a program designed to help individuals living with Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis (AbbVie).

Quick Hits....

"I really respect their team. I just thought they were a couple years away from where I wanted to be" – Warriors F Kevin Durant, on why he did not grant the Lakers a meeting during free agency (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/19).

"This just totally has blown me away in terms of what we can do. This area will be a template and an example far beyond Frisco – all over the country" – Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, on the opening of The Star, the team's new HQ (USATODAY.com, 7/18).

"We moved on from that as a league quite a long time ago" – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on the legal saga surrounding Deflategate in the wake of Patriots QB Tom Brady deciding not to appeal to the Supreme Court (N.Y. POST, 7/19).

"I’ve called every doctor I know to see what they know. At this point, you either go or you’re not going. I can only speak for myself. I’m going" – Tennis player Sloane Stephens, on her decision to participate in the Rio Games despite concerns about the Zika virus (WASHINGTON POST, 7/19).

"Larry told me they're not interested in expanding. He said, 'I had to pull teeth just to get them to add Colorado and Utah'" – Univ. of Houston AD Hunter Yurachek, on his recent visit with Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/18).

Morning Hot Reads: The Great Compromiser

The BOSTON GLOBE notes despite Tom Brady's domineering on-field persona, off the field he "backs down, compromises, avoids confrontation, and cuts off potential distraction. He puts the needs of his employer above his own. That’s the history of his contract negotiations, and it’s the epitaph for his 544-day Deflategate freedom fight."

SPORTSONEARTH.com on "ignorant" criticism of the NFLPA in its handling of CBA negotiations: "Does everybody realize what a union's job is? Does anybody know what negotiations are like?"
 
Also:

Twitter Me This....

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

Today's Back Pages....

The Morning Buzz offers today's back page sports covers from some of North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

 N.Y. Post  N.Y. Daily News Newsday   Boston HeraldChicago Sun-TimesPhiladelphia
Daily News

Today's Events....

The NFL Panthers at 11:00am ET will update the media on security upgrades and 500-level renovations at Bank of America Stadium.

Spanning The Global....

The most-read Global stories today on SportsBusiness Daily:

1) Juventus Arrives In Melbourne For ICC Tournament Missing 13 Of Its Biggest Stars
2) Qatar Airways, Barcelona Reportedly Weighing Camp Nou Naming Rights Deal
3) Russia Orchestrated Doping Cover-Up Across 'Vast Majority' Of Sports, WADA Report States
4) Repucom Report Reveals Formula E Has 4% Of F1's TV Audience
5) Imola Management Signs Agreement With F1 CEO For Italian GP

Final Jeopardy!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “International Sports.”

“Established in 1903, this European event was originally touted in a newspaper printed on yellow paper.”

Laugh Track: Mike Check

Baseball HOFer-elect Mike Piazza appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night ahead of his HOF induction this coming weekend. Piazza said his wife taped the moment when he received the news he was being inducted, and Kimmel then asked, “Were they taping you last year when you didn’t get the call?” Piazza said former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who drafted him, said it was Piazza’s choice to be inducted as a Dodger or a Met and “if you want to go in a Met it’s fine.” When Piazza said he was going in as a Met, “Tommy went, 'What the (EXPLETIVE)! What’s wrong with you!? I gave you your chance!'” Piazza presented Kimmel with a jersey from the Italian soccer team he owns, A.C. Reggiana 1919. Piazza said of owning the team, “It’s just been a great adventure. I’m probably going to lose a lot of money” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 7/19).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said of the Rio Games, “I read that a 94-year-old track coach for New Zealand will be attending this year’s Games, which makes the most suspenseful part of every race the starting gun. … U.S. Olympic swimmer Nathan Adrian says he eats five to six full meals a day and on practice days, he has breakfast twice. Let’s see a picture of this year’s team. I think we know which one Nathan is there” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 7/18).