• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Tuned In returns to NYC on September 16. Hear from the biggest names in sports media. Click here to get your spot

ACC Inks Media Deal With The CW Network For Football, Basketball

  • The CW will broadcast 50 football and basketball games annually until 2026-27.
  • The partnership comes at an opportune time for the ACC.
Oct 8, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; ACC teams the Clemson Tigers and the Boston College Eagles line up for the snap at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter at Alumni Stadium.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The CW Network has secured a stake in Power 5 sports media rights.

On Thursday, the network announced it had struck a deal with the ACC to broadcast 50 football and basketball games yearly until 2026-27. Next season, the CW will air 13 football games, 28 men’s basketball games, and nine women’s basketball games.

The games will likely be those that wouldn’t have made it to ESPN’s national networks, and instead were featured on local networks including Bally Sports and Fox Sports. Raycom Sports sublicenses games like these to local broadcasters — which allowed the CW to step into the partnership. Raycom Sports will produce the games for the CW.

The partnership signals that the conference is pivoting away from local broadcasting companies as turmoil in the local TV industry continues.

It was important for the ACC not to risk any lost media rights revenue, as its locked into a media rights contract with ESPN until 2036. While the contract provides stability, there has been concern that it would fall woefully behind other Power 5 conferences — which will renegotiate their media packages multiple times before the ACC can. The league currently sends checks in the mid-$30 million range to each school in conference distributions, according to tax filings — most of which comes from media rights revenue.

It’s a happy marriage for The CW as well. The company has inked deals with LIV Golf, “Inside the NFL” and has been rumored to be in the mix for sports media rights, including the Pac-12.

“We are committed to making The CW a destination for live, appointment-viewing sporting events,” Dennis Miller, President of The CW Network, said in a statement. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NC State

NC State ‘Cardiac Pack’ Team Loses NCAA Suit for NIL Back Pay

The 1983 team was among college basketball’s greatest Cinderella stories. 
Etienne

A ‘College Football RedZone’ Is an ESPN Gold Mine—in Theory

The network would have to strike new deals with its rivals.
NFL Network host Kimmi Chex gives Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor a draft do-over during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Taylor was drafted in 2020 when the draft was held virtually due to COVID.

ESPN Reaches NFL Draft Rights Extension Following Mega-Deal

The network will continue to broadcast the draft through 2030, say sources.

Featured Today

Dec 14, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump wave during the second quarter of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field

‘Political Gold’: Trump Putting His Stamp on College Sports 

Trump has embraced executive action on hot-button college sports issues.
August 3, 2025

Inked Under Anesthesia: Athletes Getting $50,000 Tattoos

High-end studios, elite artist teams, and hours under anesthesia.
Coco Gauff at New York Liberty
August 2, 2025

How the New York Liberty Became the Hottest Ticket in Town

Once banished to the burbs, the Libs are now Brooklyn’s marquee attraction.
Las Vegas sign
July 29, 2025

College Sports Embracing Vegas After Years of Cold Shoulder

The Big Ten became the latest newcomer to Sin City.
Chad Ochocinco

Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco Settle $20 Million Defamation Suit 

It’s the second multimillion-dollar lawsuit Sharpe has settled in recent weeks.
August 4, 2025

NFL’s Hall of Fame Game Draws 6.9M TV Viewers, Highest Since 2021

The Lions and Chargers played this year’s game in Canton, Ohio.
Apr 2, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Roman Reigns during Wrestlemania Night 2 at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
August 6, 2025

ESPN Strikes $1.6 Billion Streaming Deal With WWE

WWE’s premium live events are migrating from NBC’s Peacock in 2026.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Jul 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the crowd as they take on the Connecticut Sun in the first quarter at TD Garden.
July 30, 2025

WNBA Viewership Up Across All Networks Compared to 2024

Non-Fever games are up 37% compared to the full 2024 season.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) celebrates winning Sunday, July 27, 2025, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
July 30, 2025

Amazon, TNT Post Near-Identical NASCAR Ratings in Debut Season

The cable channel is a new media-rights partner this season.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Kia Nurse (11) drives to the basket against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) during the second half at United Center.
July 29, 2025

Fever-Sky Draws 1.5M Viewers Despite Clark, Reese Absences

Clark and Reese both missed the game due to injury.
July 29, 2025

WBD Restructuring Shows What’s Old Is New Again

WBD will become Warner Bros. and Discovery Global as two separate entities.