Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
ACC Network to air UNC game, leaving many here unable to watch
The Miami Hurricanes’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener at North Carolina on Saturday night will be aired on ACC Network, causing many South Floridians to be unable to watch a game that could carry significant implications in the conference’s Coastal Division.
ESPN has yet to reach an agreement with Xfinity/ Comcast and AT&T Uverse to carry its new network dedicated to the ACC, which launched on Aug. 22.
Miami athletic director Blake James and coach Manny Diaz have clamored for Hurricanes fans to demand ACC Network from their cable providers, but the efforts haven’s created an agreement for two of the more popular providers in South Florida.
Uverse has a statement regarding negotiations with ESPN posted on its website: “For years, Atlantic Coast Conference sports aired on ESPN and other networks at no additional cost to customers. Now, ESPN has launched the ACC Network, a new TV network that will carry some of the ACC games. Unfortunately, they are demanding a large fee to carry it. This would mean that all customers, even those who do not watch ACC sports, would need to pay more.”
Comcast has issued a similar statement: “Many ACC games are still available on broadcast and cable channels without the new network. However, in support of our customers, Comcast will not carry the ACC Network until we reach an agreement at a fair and reasonable cost.”
After UM’s ACC opener in Chapel Hill, the Hurricanes’ home opener against Bethune-Cookman will also be aired on ACC Network.
DirecTV, DISH, Youtube TV and Hulu are among services that carry ACC Network. Attempting to stream online via WatchESPN requires a login through a service provider that does carry the network.