AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Despite growing concerns about "cord-cutting" across the industry and cable giant Comcast's recent decision to reduce distribution of the Big Ten Network, ACC Commissioner John Swofford says the conference's planned linear network is still full speed ahead for an August 2019 launch date.
Swofford, speaking Thursday at the conclusion of the Atlantic Coast Conference's annual spring meetings, said ESPN executives have not changed any of their financial projections for the fledgling network.
"That is really, in every way, shape and form, exactly where we want it to be at in this given point in time," Swofford said of the network. "You can feel the energy picking up, both within our room and certainly with ESPN, as the time gets closer and closer."
ACC member schools are hopeful that the network will bring much-needed revenue to the conference, which has lagged behind some other Power 5 leagues when it comes to annual financial distributions.
ESPN executives made a presentation during this week's meetings, and Swofford said all of the numbers continue to be "encouraging."
While noting that this is a trying time for the cable industry, with many users "cutting the cord" and switching to streaming alternatives, Swofford said ESPN's subscriber numbers have been "holding stronger" in the states that make up the ACC's geographic footprint than other parts of the country.
"That's a very good sign for us," Swofford said. "Obviously, that landscape continues to change. As I've said before, I think we have the best partner you could possibly have, with whatever all of that looks like five years from now, 10 years from now."
The ACC's longtime commissioner also dismissed any concerns that the sudden resignation of ESPN President John Skipper this past December would have any bearing on the network. Skipper is a North Carolina native and threw his considerable clout behind the project, but Swofford said new ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro has been no less committed to making it happen.
"He has said everything I would want him to say in those conversations," Swofford said. "The commitment is totally there. We couldn't be more pleased with what we feel, what we hear, and what we see. ...
"I've said this a number of times before: The channel is a terrific business opportunity for us. It's also a terrific business opportunity for ESPN. Sometimes people forget that. And they are in business to be successful. This is something that can very positively impact ESPN, just as it can very positively impact the ACC."
Within the next year, Swofford said the network will begin lining up talent and non-game programming for the network.
Swofford also recapped several of the recommendations made by the ACC's football and basketball coaches during this week's meetings:
* The football coaches would like to spend more time with their current players and less time on the road recruiting. With that in mind, the ACC is going to propose legislation to institute "dead periods" in recruiting in February and July.
* The ACC also is going to recommend to the Football Oversight Committee that a limit be placed on verbal offers to prospects -- that they only be allowed starting on Sept. 1 of a prospect's junior year.
* During the six-week period when football coaches are allowed to be on the road recruiting during the spring, the ACC will propose limiting each school to using only four of those six weeks. Each school would pick which four weeks it uses.
* Regarding player safety, the football coaches expressed concern about the kickoff play and whether it needs to be changed or abolished in the future. No official recommendations were made, but the coaches do want it to be examined.
* The basketball coaches are proposing that the NCAA Tournament field be expanded by four additional teams.
* The league is supporting the widening of the lane and pushing back the 3-point line, as well as resetting the shot clock to 20 seconds after an offensive rebound.
* The ACC also is planning to hold a Mental Health and Wellness Summit next spring. All schools in the conference will be formalizing their own on-campus commitment to mental health and wellness this fall, if they haven't already.
* The ACC is supporting the NCAA's call for federal regulations for sports betting following the Supreme Court's recent decision that struck down the ban on single-game wagers.
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