Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Understanding the ACC TV rights -- including "RSN"

The ACC one of the more straightforward TV deals in the NCAA.  Basically, ESPN owns them all.  However, there are still more games available than timeslots on the various ESPN channels, so the Worldwide Leader in Sports shares some of the games.



There are two sets of games that get sublicensed out to other media entities.

First is the ACC Network, which is a syndicated program produced by Raycom Sports.  This is the game that comes on one of your local channels at 12:30 PM every Saturday during college football season.  In most markets, the lower tier stations pick up the games (MyNetwork, CW, Fox, etc.), although some markets have NBC or CBS affiliates pick up the broadcast.  In some areas, the game shows up on a digital subchannel.  The broadcast might not appear on the same channel every week, due to commitments that station might have to its primary network.  (For instance, in Richmond, the local Fox station is primary for ACC Network games, but during the month of September, the ACC Network moved over to the CW station while Fox had noon baseball games.)

The ACC Network game is also streamed on the ACC website and app.  (And not subject to any blackout that I have been able to determine.)

Probably the most confusing entry on a TV/Time block on a team's schedule is "RSN".   RSN stands for Regional Sports Network, but it might as well just say Fox Sports Net.

Basically, this is a game that is produced by Fox Sports.  It has all of the Fox graphics and music.  In most areas, it airs on the Fox Sports Net channel, which is a regional cable sports channel.  In regions that are not served by a FSN channel, the game is offered to another regional sports cable channel.

So, when you are looking for the "RSN" game, first look to see if you have a Fox Sports Net (usually referred to as "Fox Sports [location]" such as "Fox Sports Carolina").  If not, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, ROOT, MSG, NESN, and occasionally YES carry the broadcast.

Also keep in mind that due to other commitments, the broadcast might get placed on the "plus" or "overflow" versions of those channels.

Now, "RSN" and "ACC Network" are two different entities.  Lamenting that the local station carrying the ACC Network game isn't carrying the RSN game is like complaining that your local ABC station isn't carrying the ESPNU game.  RSN games only show up on cable, not on broadcast stations, and they are not interchangeable with the ACC Network.  (That being said, sometimes the ACC Network will broadcast two games, and the one that does not air on local stations might get picked up by a cable channel.)

In theory, both of these types of games are streamed on ESPN3, however, they are subject to blackouts.  Most RSN games are blacked out in the area covered by the ACC.  Fox does not offer any streaming options for the games.

Finally, these games usually show up on ESPN's schedules only as ESPN3, because ESPN will promote their platforms before anyone else.  But these are not broadcasts produced by ESPN.

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