A couple of thoughts come to mind here. My first post was about what the ACC Digital Network has been doing. But someone earlier posted what Raycom has been doing with Broadcast Stations signing up for the ACC Network. I imagine the interest is more for basketball games than football games, but I don't know that. It's just a guess. But the point is that since Raycom has gone outside the ACC footprint, they have had great success signing affiliates to show games that ESPN doesn't show.
http://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2...l#!/2012/09/acc-network-tv-coverage-maps.html
Consistent with what you are saying, holes in the Northeast still exist in much of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and much of New England. But there has been good progress in New York State even before Syracuse comes on board. I think even though Maryland is leaving, there will be stations there still showing ACC Basketball. Perhaps some of this will translate to the Cable Channel. The broadcast stations signed up in SEC, Big Ten, Big XII, and PAC 12 areas today is somewhat a surprise.
It also reiterates possible potential further consideration of UConn or perhaps Temple, who we've discussed to address some of these Northeast holes. Penn State obviously would be better than Temple if they were ever available. And we've already discussed the issues UConn created for itself with the ACC, but I'm wondering if they can help with New England and even NYC some. Temple would be just for the Philly area. I don't think Pittsburgh will generate a whole lot of interest there. Temple might not either. Yikes! Could this network push us past 16? Then we'd be working toward 20. That's getting really big. But TV Networks change the overall thinking.
PA is never going to be ACC turf without Penn State that is pretty obvious, but Pittsburgh will bring the Western part of the state which has a decent population, and while Pitt isn't huge they aren't a no-name and will bring a portion of that region to an ACC network. Eastern PA and Philadelphia is gone for the ACC and it won't become ACC turf nor will it become B1G turf as Philly is a pro-sports town first and the B1G will never be big there, but Penn State will have that state locked down. I am dating a Penn State grad from Haddenfield, PA which is a burb of Philly and that region is all pro sports, but watches Penn State football only.
I also think that Maryland will still have fans of ACC basketball, and while they will watch Terps basketball primarily, but they will watch to root against Duke/North Carolina in ACC games. I think that if Providence, RI which the heart of Big East country has an ACC network affiliate then Washington D.C. with Virginia Tech, Virginia still in the conference will remain atleast half ACC turf, and I think Baltimore will find an CW type local affiliate to get easy programing for the fall/winter and will maintain an affiliation with the ACC.
UConn is never going to be added as we discussed because of the lawsuit, but they would lockdown CT the state and would help get an ACC network in NYC due to their basketball team. The rest of New England would depend on the sport, college basketball may get some interest in ACC basketball, but college football is not important AT ALL in RI, MA, NH, VT, ME. Those states are all sports suburbs of tge Boston professional teams IMO, and if Boston College is decent they can help, but Boston is never going to be a BC town they are behind the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins by a long margin and unless they are good won't get any coverage.
The ACC network needs to lockdown NC, VA, SC, GA, FL, WNY, CNY will be brought back SU, NYC will need the BTN to get on for the ACC to have a chance, Western PA, KY, some of New England will be needed to make good profits. Also, I would hope ESPN/ACC would work on getting the Directv, Dish onboard as well like they are for BTN. If Notre Dame ever joins full-time in 10 years the conference will have a lot more leverage to get its network national as the entire country loves to hate or root for Notre Dame.
