ACC

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.

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

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

• Collegiate athletic conference
• College sports broadcasting
• Athletic media rights
• University sports governance
• Conference championship events

Headquarters

HQ city

Greensboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Disney AdvertisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 May 2026Disney 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 DameflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Notre 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.
• ESPNflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026ESPN 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 CWcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 May 2026The 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.
• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 May 2026Duke 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Syracuse 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 FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025The 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.
• SERVPROminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2025SERVPRO 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ACCDigitalNetwork
• Xx.com/theACC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlantic-coast-conference

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACC