As Broadband continues to increase more and more, we are going to continue to see folks leaving the Cable/Satellite companies in droves. We are seeing more and more offerings (ESPN/ESPN2 through Sling TV, WatchESPN, Hulu, Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube, Showtime, etc.) This is what is making it so difficult for ESPN as well as the Cable and Satellite companies and they are losing subscribers all the time. This is also a real problem for the conference networks which are currently tied to the Cable networks. Personally, I would really like to see the ACC be cutting edge and go with a cord cutting model. Charge "x" price for games per month that go on their network and keep ALL the profits. Instead of ESPN taking 50%, the ACC could keep 100%. SEC gets $1 per sub, but half of that goes to ESPN. Lets say the ACC charges $7 per month, none of that goes to ESPN. That would mean the SEC could have 14 times more subs, but still make the same money as the ACC. This is the model of the future and this is the one I hope they are seriously considering. We currently have the ACC Digital Network, so it would be an easy transition in my opinion. Then the ACC could focus on buying back games from 3rd parties and putting them on the network. With ND in the mix, and controlling 2-3 games per year, that would allow the ACC to capitalize on ALL the ND fans in addition to the ACC fans because those are BIG games that everyone wants to see. Imagine if the the Clemson/ND game was only available on the ACC Digital Network.
At the very least, if I am the ACC this is what I am sharing that we are seriously considering doing while negotiating a TV network contract. Heck, I would do it anyway and go ahead and add the two or three ND games on there every year as well as any low tier games not picked up by ESPN. I would also be talking to BYU about a 4 game deal with them (2 home, 2 away) every year that we could put on there as well.
At the very least, if I am the ACC this is what I am sharing that we are seriously considering doing while negotiating a TV network contract. Heck, I would do it anyway and go ahead and add the two or three ND games on there every year as well as any low tier games not picked up by ESPN. I would also be talking to BYU about a 4 game deal with them (2 home, 2 away) every year that we could put on there as well.
