In Tallahassee, Curt Weiler reports the ACC Network yesterday "landed one of its big targets" when Charter/Spectrum "agreed to terms to carry" the network ahead of its launch next week. Charter/Spectrum is the "second-largest distributor in the ACC footprint." It is "available in Florida in the Orlando and Tampa areas and is also available in ACC markets including North and South Carolina, New York and Louisville." A number of "key providers" such as Comcast, Century Link, Dish and Frontier Communications "have not yet agreed to terms" (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 8/15).
MAGICAL START: In DC, Matt Bonesteel reports ESPN's first "College GameDay" of the season will be live from Disney World in Orlando for Miami-Florida on Aug. 24. "College GameDay" that day will "look almost nothing like" what fans have "come to enjoy over the last quarter-century or so." To get "anywhere close to the set," fans will "first have to purchase a Disney World admission ticket." Flags, banners, signs, horns, whistles, large megaphones and artificial noisemakers are "prohibited at Disney World" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/15).
PARTY DOWN SOUTH: In New Orleans, Rod Walker reports the Vikings-Saints preseason opener, broadcast locally on WVUE-Fox, "drew a 40.0 rating," which was "almost 15 points ahead of the second best local ratings" that week. Bengals-Chiefs had a "local rating of 25.3" (NOLA.com, 8/14).
