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What channel is the ACC Network?

By Brad Berreman

Jul 21, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; ACC commissioner John Swofford speaks with the media during the ACC Football Kickoff at Westin Charlotte. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; ACC commissioner John Swofford speaks with the media during the ACC Football Kickoff at Westin Charlotte. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN is behind the creation of the ACC Network, and here’s how it can be found on your TV this year.

Leaving aside last Friday night’s game between Hawaii and Cal in Australia, the 2016 college football season is set to start (more widely) Thursday night.

At first glance, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for college football may look like Clemson, Florida State and everyone else. But seven other teams in the conference earned bowl bids last year, and five of those squads also had at least eight wins.

After long-standing rumors suggesting it would happen, ESPN and the ACC announced the creation of the ACC Network in July. It will launch by August 2019, and as part of the deal the network and the conference have agreed to a 20-year media rights extension through the 2035-2036 academic year.

The ACC also extended its conference rights deal through 2035-36, which virtually eliminates the financial viability for a school to leave the conference. Over the course of the new 20-year term, media rights and revenue for all home games would stay with the ACC regardless of a school’s affiliation.

Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in all sports except football, where they remain independent, and that is automatically extended with the new conference-wide rights deal. If the Fighting Irish forego football independence in the next 20 years, they will be contractually obligated to join the ACC.

Related Story: What channel is the SEC Network?

The ACC Network’s digital channel, “ACC Network Extra,” will start this fall and carry 600 live events throughout the conference. Here’s how it can be found by ESPN subscribers.

Computer: Go to ESPN3.com. Click on the tab for either “live now” or “upcoming” and select the game you’re looking for. The games are grouped by sport and are in chronological order.

WatchESPN App: On a smartphone, tablet or streaming device, open the WatchESPN app. From the app, you can find the game by clicking on “sport” and selecting “football.” Click the tab for either “live now” or “upcoming” and select the game you want to watch.

ESPN App: Open the app, and select the TV icon at the bottom. Then scroll through the list and select the game you want.

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The ACC is late to the dedicated channel party, with the Big Ten and SEC Networks clearly setting the bar. Money is a driving force in college sports, so based on that the ACC has serious stability for many years to come.

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