RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN have agreed to a 12-year deal that would give the network exclusive rights to conference football and men's basketball game.
A person familiar with the deal says the agreement between the ACC and ESPN is worth $1.86 billion.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because financial terms were not released when the two sides announced the deal Thursday.
The agreement, which begins in the 2011-12 season, gives ESPN exclusive rights to conference football and men's basketball game and would double the league's TV revenue.
It also gives ESPN syndication rights that would allow Raycom Sports to carry games and maintain its relationship with the league.
Commissioner John Swofford says the ACC looked into creating its own network, but opted instead to utilize ESPN's in-place broadcast and multimedia outlets.