College athletics | ACC to start TV network in 2019

The Atlantic Coast Conference's television network will launch in August 2019, a person familiar with the situation said.

The person also said ESPN and the ACC also will start a digital channel next month that will be available online. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the network has not been formally announced by ESPN or the ACC.

The launch of the network will be discussed this week when the ACC holds its preseason football media days beginning Thursday. The ACC will become the fourth major conference with its own network, joining the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference. The SEC also has ESPN as its partner.