ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit collegiate athletic conference that governs competition across 28 sports for 18 member universities and distributes media rights and sponsorship revenue back to its member institutions, primarily through long-term ESPN and ACC Network broadcast agreements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersGreensboro, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ACC does
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit collegiate athletic conference founded in 1953 and headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. It governs and coordinates intercollegiate competition across 28 sports for 18 member universities, including flagship brands Duke, Florida State, Miami, Virginia, Clemson, and Louisville, following its 2024 westward expansion that added California, Stanford, and SMU. The ACC generates revenue primarily through long-term media rights agreements (ESPN through 2030-31, The CW, and Amazon Prime Video) and the ACC Network (ACCN) cable channel, distributing $736.6 million to member schools in FY2025 from total conference revenue of $826.5 million.
The ACC's core product portfolio consists of the ACC Network (ACCN) linear cable channel distributed via ESPN, the ACC Digital Network (ACCDN) streaming platform on YouTube and TheACC.com, and championship event production across football, basketball, and 26 other sports. Broadcast and streaming technology infrastructure supports multi-platform content delivery, with recent deal extensions securing ESPN and CW distribution through the 2030-31 season. Operational technology investment is led by a recently appointed VP of Sport Technology and Innovation with prior experience at MLB and Apple, though specific platform architecture details are not publicly disclosed.
The ACC's business model is governed by collective member-school ownership rather than external equity. Revenue streams include television/media rights ($588.8 million in FY2025), conference distributions, corporate sponsorships (e.g., SERVPRO as Official Cleanup and Restoration Sponsor), and ancillary revenue from championship events and international games. Pricing is not customer-facing; rather, media rights value is derived from per-subscriber fees (enhanced by ACCN's expansion into California and Texas) and advertising inventory across broadcast partners. Distribution includes direct enterprise relationships with ESPN, The CW, and Amazon, plus direct-to-consumer streaming via ACCDN.
ACC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ACC
- Legal name
- Atlantic Coast Conference
- Website
- https://theacc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit collegiate athletic conference that governs competition across 28 sports for 18 member universities and distributes media rights and sponsorship revenue back to its member institutions, primarily through long-term ESPN and ACC Network broadcast agreements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ACC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Collegiate Athletic Conference and Sports Media Rights
- NAICS
- Spectator Sports (71121), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations (MPAKACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- College & University Sports Networks (Conference/School-Owned) (MPABAJAD), College/University Sports Events (NCAA & equivalents) (MPAGAMAE), University/School Sport Governing Bodies (Collegiate/Scholastic Associations) (MPAKAFAG), Media & Broadcast Sponsorship (In-Game Broadcast, Streaming Sponsorship) (MPAKALAF), Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)
Keywords
Where ACC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greensboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ACC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Television and Media Rights: ESPN pays for ACC broadcast rights, with television revenue jumping over $100 million year-over-year to $588.8 million. The ACC Network distributes content to cable and satellite providers with westward expansion into California and Texas markets carrying higher per-subscriber fees.
- Conference Revenue Distributions: The ACC distributed $736.6 million to its 18 member schools in the fiscal year ending June 2025, with Clemson receiving the largest payout at $55.1 million and full-share schools averaging $47.1 million.
- Sponsorship Revenue: Multi-year sponsorship agreements with corporate partners including SERVPRO as Official Cleanup and Restoration Sponsor with premier sponsorship of ACC Championship events and ACCN primetime football window.
- Broadcast Rights - Secondary Markets: The CW deal grants 14 regular-season football games, 30 men's basketball games, and 10 women's basketball games annually, extending through the 2030-31 season.
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
ACC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The ACC organizes and governs intercollegiate athletic competition across 28 sponsored sports for its 18 member universities, while monetizing the resulting content through media rights and sponsorships. Its core media assets are the ACC Network (ACCN) cable/satellite channel distributed via ESPN and the ACC Digital Network (ACCDN) streaming platform, which deliver live events, highlights, and original programming such as the 'Nothing But Net' basketball show. Revenue generated from ESPN and The CW broadcast deals, plus corporate sponsorships, is distributed to member schools (e.g., $736.6 million distributed to 18 schools in FY2025).
Product overview
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) operates a multi-platform sports media portfolio consisting of the ACC Network (ACCN) for linear television distribution through ESPN, the ACC Digital Network (ACCDN) for streaming and digital content delivery, and championship event production across 28 sponsored sports. The conference's media rights are primarily distributed through an ESPN partnership extending through 2030-31, with secondary broadcast agreements with The CW (14 football games, 30 men's basketball games, and 10 women's basketball games annually). ACC's digital and streaming operations enable fans to access live events, highlights, and original programming through TheACC.com and associated platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACC Network (ACCN) Dedicated cable and satellite sports television network providing comprehensive coverage of ACC athletics, distributed through ESPN agreements to subscribers nationally. The channel features primetime football windows, basketball programming, and original content such as the 'Nothing But Net' show, and has expanded westward into California and Texas markets.
- ACC Digital Network (ACCDN) ACC's streaming and digital content platform accessible through TheACC.com and YouTube, delivering live events, on-demand content, highlights, and conference news across 28 sponsored sports.
- ACC Championship Events Conference organizes and hosts championship competitions across 28 sponsored sports including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and other athletic programs for its 18 member universities.
- ACC Network Original Programming ('Nothing But Net') Original programming on ACCN including the primetime basketball show 'Nothing But Net,' providing ACC fans with conference-specific basketball coverage, analysis, and highlights.
Companies that use ACC
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ACC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ACC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- Disney AdvertisingminorDisney Advertising partnered with ACC to secure SERVPRO as the Official Cleanup and Restoration Sponsor, arranging premier sponsorship of championship events and ACCN programming windows.
- Notre DameflagshipNotre Dame operates as a football-independent member with ACC scheduling arrangements. The agreement requires cooperation from both Big 12 and ACC conferences. BYU and Notre Dame scheduled a football series beginning October 17 in Provo after Cal withdrew from a two-game series due to ACC's nine-game schedule change.
- ESPNflagshipESPN serves as the ACC's primary media partner with exclusive broadcast rights through the 2030-31 season. The partnership includes ACC Network distribution and major college football and basketball broadcasts. ESPN was involved in discussions supporting Duke's Amazon deal and aligned with Duke against Big Ten's territorial claims.
- The CWcoreThe CW holds rights to 14 regular-season ACC football games, 30 men's basketball games, and 10 women's basketball games annually. ACC viewership on The CW has trended upward since the partnership began in 2023, with Florida State's 2023 game remaining the network's highest-rated college football broadcast.
- AmazoncoreDuke partnered with Amazon Prime Video to stream three basketball games including matchups against Michigan at Madison Square Garden, UConn in Las Vegas, and Gonzaga in Detroit. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips supported the deal, noting ESPN was involved in discussions and it fits within conference contractual obligations.
- Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (BMO Field)coreSyracuse will face Wake Forest at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 28 or 29, 2027, marking the first time two NCAA teams will compete at that venue. The game counts as a home game for Wake Forest and will air nationally on ABC or ESPN.
- Players Era FestivalminorThe Players Era Festival offered a 15% stake to all power conferences before signing with the Big 12. The ACC and SEC were reportedly more receptive than the Big Ten. The tournament is expanding from 18 to 32 men's teams.
- SERVPROminorSERVPRO became the Official Cleanup and Restoration Sponsor in a multi-year agreement. SERVPRO serves as premier sponsor of all ACC Championship events and gains presenting sponsorship of ACCN's primetime football window and basketball show 'Nothing But Net.'
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ACC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Big Ten Conference: Power Five collegiate athletic conference governing 18 member universities; directly comparable to ACC in structure, member-funded media rights, and Power Four revenue distribution mechanics.
- Southeastern Conference (SEC): Largest collegiate athletic conference by revenue with the most valuable media-rights portfolio; key direct competitor for CFP access, recruits, and broadcast distribution economics.
- Big 12 Conference: Power Five conference that absorbed most Pac-12 brands; competes head-to-head with ACC for the same media partners, CFP slots, and conference realignment positioning.
- Pac-12 Conference: Former Power Five conference that lost most members during the 2024 realignment cycle; a cautionary structural peer as ACC navigates member retention risk and grant-of-rights stability.
Regional players
- West Coast Conference: Mid-major conference with West Coast member institutions overlapping ACC's newly expanded footprint; relevant secondary peer for understanding California market dynamics.
Broad incumbents
- NCAA: National collegiate athletics governing body that sets the rules ACC operates under; co-defendant in the active NIL class action and counterparty on tournament revenue distributions.
- ESPN (College Football Playoff): Primary ACC media-rights counterparty through 2030-31 and operator of the College Football Playoff; central to ACC's distribution and revenue architecture.
- MLB (Major League Baseball): Professional sports league with comparable centralized media-rights structure and distribution economics; relevant benchmark for league-level broadcast packaging and sponsor inventory strategy.
- College Sports Commission: Power Four-established body administering NIL enforcement and revenue-sharing; direct counterpart in the active class action and the operational infrastructure shaping ACC athlete compensation.
Emerging players
- American Athletic Conference (AAC): Group of Five conference that has benefited from ACC/Pac-12 realignment losses; relevant structural peer for understanding the tier of media rights and CFP access below the Power Four.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ACC social profiles
Digital presenceACC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ACC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
ACC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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ACC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ACC
What does ACC do?
The ACC organizes and governs intercollegiate athletic competition across 28 sponsored sports for its 18 member universities, while monetizing the resulting content through media rights and sponsorships. Its core media assets are the ACC Network (ACCN) cable/satellite channel distributed via ESPN and the ACC Digital Network (ACCDN) streaming platform, which deliver live events, highlights, and original programming such as the 'Nothing But Net' basketball show. Revenue generated from ESPN and The CW broadcast deals, plus corporate sponsorships, is distributed to member schools (e.g., $736.6 million distributed to 18 schools in FY2025).
Is ACC a public or private company?
ACC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ACC founded?
ACC was founded in 1953. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ACC based?
ACC is headquartered in Greensboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does ACC make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Television and Media Rights are the primary driver. The others are conference Revenue Distributions, sponsorship Revenue and broadcast Rights - Secondary Markets.
Who are ACC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Big Ten Conference, Southeastern Conference (SEC), Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 Conference. West Coast Conference is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are NCAA, ESPN (College Football Playoff), MLB (Major League Baseball) and College Sports Commission. American Athletic Conference (AAC) is listed as an emerging player.
Does ACC have an API?
No public API is recorded for ACC.
What industry is ACC in?
ACC's product category is Collegiate Athletic Conference and Sports Media Rights. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAA, Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations, with a secondary code of MPABAJAD, College & University Sports Networks (Conference/School-Owned). Its NAICS code is 71121 and its SIC code is 4833.