Recent Layoffs Show ACC Needs to Get Out of Longterm ESPN Contract

The ACC is going to be married to ESPN for a long time – something that doesn’t look as sexy after the recent round of layoffs from the network.

It was a moment that many knew was coming, but still didn’t want to hear about: ESPN, the longtime standard for sports broadcasting that has covered everything including ACC sports over its nearly four decades, laid off over 100 employees in a clear cost cutting move. Long time network staples were shown the door as the network figures out how to keep its head above water.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the ACC’s major television partner for much of the next decade or longer – aren’t you just thrilled and full of anticipation for what’s in store!

I write that not to be mean spirited or belittle the seriousness of what took place this week in Bristol, CT – and we truly wish the best for all those who are now “free agents” in the sports broadcasting world. But the cold reality is that in the rush to try and hang with the other big boy power conferences, the ACC signed on with the network at the worst possible time.

The cherry on top for the conference was when the Worldwide Leader finally decided to get the ACC Network off the ground, promising big things in one moment and while the whole time preparing to slash contracts and payroll in an effort to find money. Whether it was bad deals with other leagues or conferences in the college or pro game, this was the worst time to be signing a long term deal – even if it was the only one on the table.

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Yes, hindsight is always going to be 20/20, but isn’t this why the ACC officials get paid the big bucks? It isn’t as if the rumors of ESPN being in financial trouble were breaking news – they were on the front page of websites and trade magazines all while the conference was picking out china patterns and booking a band for the marriage they were planning.

Of the Power Five conferences in college football, all have deals with ESPN – but the ACC is the only one who has just a deal with ESPN and, in turn, ABC. The Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12 hedged their bets and signed deals with FOX Sports, while the SEC is entering another decade of being found on CBS Sports each Saturday with their game of the week.

But, once again, the ACC was in such a rush to get a quick payday that they possibly hitched their wagon to a network that – in the long run – may not have been as profitable. As we’ve written before, the conference could have inked a deal with NBC Sports, which has a major network brand along with a strong cable network and a growing regional market thanks to being owned by Comcast.

The ACC has arguably one of the strongest media foot prints in the entire country. A look at the 2017 television markets rankings shows the conference has a either team located or a school with a considerable fan base in 11 of the top 25 cities – ahead of the Big Ten (eight), SEC (seven), Pac 12 (five) and Big 12 (three). Whether it was with ESPN, NBC, FOX, CBS or whoever, the ACC would have been able to sell their product with the number of eyeballs out there.

Maybe I’ll be wrong – maybe these layoffs are going to make ESPN a better partner for the ACC and the new network and long term contract will be fruitful for the conference. Then again, this may be the start of a long, rocky marriage where the ACC will always be checking Facebook to see what other networks and conferences are doing.