Thursday marks the fifth anniversary of the ACC Network, launched on Aug. 22, 2019. That’s remarkable for a number of reasons, from the initial doubts over if the network would ever launch to the way it had to adapt to COVID-19 shutdowns less than a year into its life to the radical current changes with the conference (from expansion with Cal, Stanford, and SMU to grant-of-rights lawsuits against the conference from Florida State and Clemson).
Ahead of that anniversary, three key ACCN figures spoke to AA. Those would be Aaron Katzman, the network’s coordinating producer from 2019-2023, Mike Cambareri, who took on that role in 2023 and still holds it, and Jeramy Michiaels, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions, who has overseen day-to-day ACCN operations since 2021 and been a key contact between the network and schools.
Part I: The launch
Katzman told AA the launch was particularly special for him.
“It was truly an experience of a lifetime. You know, it’s very rare this day and age to start something from the ground floor, and watch it go from zero to an on-air product. So that’s really something that will forever be a career highlight for me. ”…