ACC aiming to grab piece of television pie
By Travis Sawchik
GREENSBORO, N.C. — State of the conference addresses are typically as fascinating as C-SPAN, but ACC commissioner John Swofford found an attentive audience Sunday, curious to hear his thoughts regarding the television arms race.
Since Swofford's last such address, the SEC captured a third straight national title and the largest TV contract in the history of college football: 15-year deals with ESPN and CBS for roughly $3 billion.
Despite the recession and athletic departments hurting across the country, SEC commissioner Mike Slive said his conference is entering a "golden age" at its media days last week, a claim of hegemony
undisputed by ACC officials.
SEC programs will be awash in cash as the new TV contracts begin this season and run through 2024. Dollars widening a competitive divide between the SEC and everyone else, most notably the ACC, its overlapping geographic rival.
Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Miami must each contend with in-state SEC rivals, holding new advantages in regard to coaching compensation, facilities and support staffs.
"If you look historically, there are going to be separations now and then from conference to conference with television contracts depending when they are negotiated,'' Swofford said. "The gap on this one is different than in the past. We'll just have to see how that plays out over time."
The ACC's TV deals — Raycom (basketball) and ESPN/ABC (football) — expire in 2011. For the next two seasons, SEC teams will earn $17 million per year in football TV money compared to the ACC's $6.1 million per team.
Moreover, of the six BCS conferences, the ACC ranks fifth in football TV revenue, above only the Big East.
Swofford said the conference has begun discussions with ESPN and Raycom. The ACC is also exploring new models which, according to Sports Business Journal, include a possible network partnership with the Big 12 and Pac 10.
"We are taking a look at whatever new models may be out there,'' Swofford said. "It's hard to make the playing field level.''
Especially difficult since Sports Illustrated reported this week that ESPN promised the SEC a de facto network with the new deal. The SEC considered creating its own network like the Big 10 prior to the agreement.
Swofford said the depth of the ACC has been overlooked. The conference ranked first in the Massey ratings and third in the Sagarin ratings last season.
He thinks the conference has been hurt by a lack of teams in the national title hunt. Conversely, the SEC has won three straight titles, buoying its visibility nationally.
"It's about doing the best you can with what you have whether it is a lot or whether it is a little," Swofford said. "Sometimes people do very well with a lot, sometimes they don't.''
That said, Swofford and the ACC would rather have a lot.
Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.
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rebel1 (anonymous) says...
"Moreover, of the six BCS conferences, the ACC ranks fifth in football TV revenue, above only the Big East".... I've said it many times before. The acc is weak. thats why they are not watched except by their own fans. I know puttykats beat USC last year and won 7 or 8 games. Who cares. Who did they beat in their tough sch. Maybe now they will see no one is watching.
July 27, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
rebel1, no one overlooks their games with the ACC. You are not fooling anyone. The ACC in general and Clemson in particular are huge parts of your life. Your consistently unpleasant remarks about the ACC and CU lead me to believe that you really are no sports fan. Always showing no sportsmanship leads me to believe that none of the other important state conferences, SouCon and SEC, would have much to do with you, since those conferences and many others show some class...at least once in awhile.
July 27, 2009 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dereksmith (anonymous) says...
I know the ACC is weak, but I'll still watch. I'll watch Clemson beat usc, Ga Tech beat ga - some of the better games.
July 27, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fantasy5 (anonymous) says...
LOL, are you insinuating that South Carolina is the impetus for the SEC getting such a great deal? That statement just goes to show how big of an idiot you are "rebel1." I will admit that overall the SEC is a stronger conference at this time and no one questions that, however SC is by no means putting the proverbial food on the table. The only reason SC gets any attention is due to their "has-been" savior SOS, who has rightfully earned respect, albeit not at SC but at UF. Yes we did beat you last year, which would suggest via the food chain that we likely would have faired better than you in the SEC last year, not a fact, just hypothetically speaking. We've beaten you the last few years and history would suggest we will continue doing so. That being said, the revenue stream is predetermined during contractual agreements, which does have to do with historical figures on TV viewers, but by no means can measure how many people will actually watch the games, especially a match-up of SC-Vandy, LOL. The ACC will get a TV deal signed that will be competitive with all other leagues, I promise you. All I'm saying "rebel," is you really haven't earned any rights to flap your chops about anything including who's watching who or which league has the better TV deal because we beat you like our red-headed stepchild every year and so does your conference. So until you change either of those scenarios, I have a whole bag of "SHHHH" for you right here...
July 27, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rooster07 (anonymous) says...
Easy big fella. I am a Gamecock fan and I can admit that we had absolutely nothing to do with the SEC landing that deal. Also, rebel1, we have no right to talk smack to Clemson...as much as it pains me to say it. Florida, LSU, Bama, UGA, etc we can thank for this deal along with Mike Slive being a great businessman.
How fun would it be to have Clemson join the SEC. I think they would be a great fit. They could swap conferences with UK. I know I would vote for that.
July 27, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dereksmith (anonymous) says...
Finally, a gamecock fan with some sense.
July 27, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
I would love to see my Tigers in the SEC , I hate being in the ACC . Classy post rooster to bad redneck0 has none .
July 27, 2009 at 7:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sptiger (anonymous) says...
rooster07 is one of the finest posters on here. rational, logical with a touch of class to boot. rebel1 occassionally crawls out from beneath his trailer in dixiana to let dung fall from his mouth.
July 27, 2009 at 9:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
surfer (anonymous) says...
I have to ditto all that Rooster said. To insinuate that the Gamecock fanbase was significantly influential in the ESPN and CBS deals is ludicrous. We've got a pretty rabid fanbase that hangs in there through thick and thin no matter how badly things get, but we are far from being influential on a national level. Not to say that we can't get there one day, but it won't be too soon.
July 27, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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