ACC Network reaches carriage deal with Dish, just in time for football season

One of the biggest concerns about the ACC Network heading into 2019 was how many carriers would initially pick up the ESPN-owned channel in advance of football season. The ACC’s done a pretty nice job getting big providers onboard, but going into last night’s opener between Clemson and Georgia Tech, there were still several big holdouts including Comcast and Dish.

Now, you can cross one of those off, as Dish and ESPN reached a deal just before kickoff on Thursday. Sling Orange will also carry it, as a “Sports Extra’ add-on.

That’s still not every provider, given the current TimeWarner/Spectrum issues in New York State, plus the fact that Comcast is still not picking it up. But with Charter/Spectrum, Dish, DirecTV, Verizon Fios, Altice, Hulu, YouTube TV and more all in the fold already, that does put additional pressure on the holdouts. The ACC was smart and targeted digital providers to add to the heat already created by cord-cutting too, giving perhaps some ACC fans the “final straw” in the argument to switch to streaming.

We’ll see if Comcast and others cave. But in the meantime, quite a few options for you to watch the ACC Network as it is.

How Syracuse’s Chris Fredrick balances football with computer engineering (Syracuse.com)

After the presentation was completed, Fredrick walked across campus from the Life Sciences Building, changed and jumped onto the field for a drive. ”They almost didn’t let me in,” Fredrick said. “They were like, ‘Why are you coming through this door?’ I said, ‘I’m on the team. I’m playing right now.’” Afterward, he saw a text from a group member: the judges awarded them with the best grade in the class and a $250 prize.

Dish reaches ACC Network deal in time for Clemson game (The Roanoke Times)

The Dish Network satellite service tweeted Thursday night that it reached an “agreement in principle” with ESPN to carry the ESPN-owned ACC Network in time for the ACC Network telecast of Thursday night’s Georgia Tech-Clemson game. Dish subscribers with America’s Top 120+ or above, or with the Regional Action Pack, or with the Multi-Sport Pack can watch the game on Dish Ch. 402.

5-Star Isaiah Jackson Visiting Kentucky, Another School (CuseNation)

Syracuse: “When I went on campus for an unofficial last year I liked it, I liked the vibe and stuff and the way they play defense with a two-three zone kind of thing, I think that fits me perfect with me blocking shots and stuff.”

New Year’s Six bowl or bust? Five make or break games for Syracuse (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)

Twenty-one years. It’s been more than two decades since Donovan McNabb led Syracuse to an Orange Bowl berth in 1998. Back then the Orange Bowl was apart of the Bowl Championship Series, now it’s one of the New Year’s Six Bowl games.

Former Syracuse Women’s Basketball Player Kayla Alexander Writes, Illustrates Children’s Books (AP)

She continued to blossom as an artist as she grew, attending art camps at the encouragement of her mom. Then basketball entered her life, earning a scholarship to Syracuse before she went on to play in the WNBA and overseas. Now, the 28-year-old Canadian has been able to combine her two loves, writing and illustrating a children’s book that will be released Thursday — The Magic of Basketball.

Nets Gain: Could Melo join Kyrie and KD in Brooklyn? (The Athletic)

One Shining Pod Final Offseason Roundup (The Ringer)

Andrew White Traded to Knick’s G-League Team (Syracuse.com)

Women’s Soccer Wins 2nd in a Row, Defeating Sienna 3-0 (Daily Orange)

Clemson football: Who can challenge the Tigers in the ACC? (New York Post)