Today, Governor Roy Cooper urged television and content providers to come to an agreement with ESPN’s ACC Network to televise Atlantic Coast Conference sports games. Their previous failure to agree currently leaves many North Carolina college sports fans unable to watch their favorite teams play this fall.
Governor Cooper called on television providers and ESPN to find a solution, saying, “Some cable television and content providers have reached agreement and I commend them for that. I urge Comcast, AT&T Uverse and other providers who haven’t found a solution to push harder. And I urge ESPN, Disney and the ACC to increase their efforts to reach agreements with these providers. Fans of the ACC are depending on it."
CLICK HERE to read the letter or see below.
Dear Chairman Gandler, President Pitaro, Chairman Rice, Chairman Roberts, Chairman Stephenson, and Commissioner Swofford:
For many North Carolinians, September is marked by the return of college sports. We are fortunate to be home to many strong colleges and universities with deep traditions and proud fan bases, including four schools that compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
If you live in our state, it is more than likely that a college team you root for wears red, black and gold, or a shade of blue. The fall season means the return of football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, and other exciting sports. Unfortunately, many fans have learned that they are unable to watch their favorite teams play this season due to a failure to reach an agreement between ESPN’s new ACC Network and some of the most popular television providers in our state.
College sports are a way of life for many North Carolinians and they strengthen our state’s culture and communities, but many viewers are being shut out because of the current corporate contract disputes. While I believe that the ACC Network can benefit our universities and the conference, we should not leave the everyday fan behind. If you lose them, you lose it all.
Some cable television and content providers have reached agreement and I commend them for that. I urge Comcast, AT&T Uverse and other providers who haven’t found a solution to push harder. And I urge ESPN, Disney and the ACC to increase their efforts to reach agreements with these providers. Fans of the ACC are depending on it.
With kind regards, I am
Very truly yours,
Roy Cooper
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