Here's the problem with the Raycom/ACC over-the-air package on weekdays

[JD1976]

Let me start by saying, I'm one of the tech savvy ones who has Apple TV, DirecTV SportsPack, etc. and never misses a Pitt game, but the whole thing with the ACC over the air weeknight package is truly a joke.

Of the 56 stations carrying tonight's Duke/Wake Forest game on the "ACC Network" only THREE are affiliates of one of the big four networks (CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC).

Naturally, those 3 stations are located within the old school ACC footprint (CBS in Raleigh/Durham, NBC in Charlottesville and FOX in Lynchburg/Roanoke). Even if I give you that a CW Network affiliate can be easily found in most areas on all platforms, that only gives you 4 more stations.

So generously, only 7 of the 56 stations carrying tonight's Duke/Wake game are on network-affiliated stations. That leaves a majority of MyTVs, ThisTVs, MeTVs, YouTVs and a collection of stations you can only get with a clothes hanger connected to your television.

It's no surprise because in most markets (Pittsburgh included) the local ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX affiliate station isn't going to disrupt network primetime programming to carry ACC basketball. Heck, WTAE in Pittsburgh hasn't done this for Pitt games so they sure aren't going to do it for any other game.

The bottom line is if the ACC insists on having an "over the air" package they should stick to weekends when legitimate stations can actually carry the games.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The Raleigh CBS affiliate is WRAL. They are pretty much the flagship of ACC basketball. ACC hoops gets huge ratings on that station and not just the local schools. They pre-empt the CBS primetime lineup for the ACC and have been doing that for decades. Its one of the few cities where ACC hoops trumps Blue Bloods or whatever CBS has on that night. A big part of the decision to syndicate through Raycom was to keep WRAL in the game. But, like you said, the ACC is relegated to more obscure OTA stations almost everywhere else. However, WRAL probably pays so much for the rights, Raycom can afford to sell their package to WTAE/thisTV for $25 and a Primanti's sandwich.