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New Cable Network for A.C.C. Heightens Arms Race in College Sports

Melissa Rawlins /ESPN Images

After three years of planning, building and negotiating, ESPN was ready earlier this month to reveal the studio for its newest television channel, the ACC Network. A 30-minute teaser was produced, but when the scheduled time to stream it came and went, it became clear the hype-building exercise was a dud.

“In true Live TV form, we’re standing by with technical difficulties,” an ESPN communications staffer wrote on Twitter.

ESPN hopes the actual debut Thursday night goes more to plan.

The channel will be both influential for college sports and anachronistic to many viewers.