Commissioner Jim Phillips Unveils Growth Strategy at ACC Media Days

"The bottom line is our conference is strong, and I'm extremely bullish about our future together."

There have been a lot of discussions this past year in regard to conference re-alignment and where FSU, along with the ACC, stands in the ever-changing landscape of college football.

The Atlantic Coast Conference kicked off its annual three-day media event on Tuesday, which featured head coaches and star players representing each of the fifteen institutions comprising the conference. 

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ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips took to the podium to address various topics, including the conference's direction regarding media rights and revenue streams.

"We have agreed on a comprehensive, mutually beneficial growth and innovation strategy moving forward," Phillips said. "And second, put in motion several priority initiatives, the combination of which we believe will transform our conference for years to come. Our schools and fans will immediately benefit from significantly increased ACC football television exposure on ABC and ESPN platforms."

A recent complaint for some fans was the inability to watch their team play on the network due to multiple streaming platforms and services having different contracts and rights regarding who gets to air what. At times, fans, even home games in the city where the game was being played, were unable to watch. Phillips said the ACC has partnered with the CW Network, which should help alleviate some of those grievances. Phillips went on to explain that CW would be replacing Bally Sports, who originally was responsible for the distribution throughout regions.

"In addition to our partners at ESPN, we welcome the CW Network to our line-up of broadcast partners. Beginning this year, the CW will broadcast 13 ACC football games throughout the regular season," Phillips said. "Raycom will produce the games, and we are thrilled with the CW's national distribution."

The additional networks will bring in more revenue and help close the gap between the ACC, the SEC, and Big Ten. Still, the current Grant of Rights, which the ACC is stuck in until 2036, is reported to be well short of what the other conferences are projected to bring in, and the fact that there are still 13 years until the ACC can get out of it has had many programs meeting behind closed doors to find a solution.

"I'm well aware of the narrative and stories surrounding the ACC and our members, as well as the frustrations of some of our schools on our financials, but these are not new," Phillips said. "The initiatives I just mentioned, combined with future endeavors, are designed to ensure that the ACC remains a healthy and vibrant conference that competes at the highest level and is capable of winning nine national titles like this past year, if not more."

Another route that Jim Phillips has taken, which will begin in 2024, is an "incentive initiative" that in summary, provides the schools drawing in the most money receiving the biggest cut of the profits.

"At the end of May, following an analysis and discussion that took place throughout the past year, the board announced its endorsement of a success incentive initiative that will begin during the 2024/' 25 academic year. Under this initiative, financial distribution enhancements based on team performances from revenue-generating postseason competition will allow our schools to invest and achieve additional revenue."

Wherever direction the commissioner and the ACC take, it is safe to say that they are actively pursuing and implementing a plan for the future.

Phillips went over the direction of the ACC, NIL, and more during his conference. The full transcript can be found here.

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