ACC, CW strike broadcast deal to air 50 football, basketball games

Beginning this fall, the ACC will begin airing football and basketball events on the CW Network, a new addition to the league’s Saturday schedule.

The CW has secured the rights to 50 ACC games, beginning Sept. 9 with Pitt’s football game against Cincinnati. Thirteen ACC football games air Saturdays on the CW, which airs 28 ACC men’s and women’s basketball games in December, January and February. The ACC hosts men’s basketball doubleheaders on the CW every Saturday and women’s basketball doubleheaders on Sunday afternoons.

Raycom Sports, which sublicenses ACC events from ESPN, sold its rights to the CW but will continue to produce them. The CW does not air collegiate sporting events but is the exclusive home of LIV Golf. The network is best known for its television series, including All-American, which focuses on college football players in the Los Angeles area.

“We are extremely pleased to add The CW to our weekly television schedule for ACC football and basketball games,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “National distribution of the CW will directly benefit our student-athletes, teams, alumni and fans. We value the collaboration between ESPN and Raycom and look forward to partnering with The CW.”

The ACC agreed to a 20-year media rights agreement with ESPN in July 2016, running through the 2035–36 academic year. Some league members have expressed frustration with the long-term arrangement, as the ACC lags significantly behind the SEC and the Big Ten in revenue. Phillips has promised to be creative in finding solutions to generate more revenue.