Your viewing guide to Cal in the ACC: It should be easier to watch the Bears
Getting the ACC Network is far easier if you have a cable or satellite provider.
We are into a new world with the California Golden Bears in the ACC. Much of it is strange, much of it is very odd.
But one thing that is better: Cal fans should be able to mostly watch a full season of football and basketball if they have a TV package of any sort.
More about the nuts and bolts below.
ACC TV Contract: Football and Basketball
The ACC has a comprehensive TV contract with ESPN that covers all football and men's basketball games. The contract, effective from the 2011-12 athletic year, extends until the 2036-37 athletic year (or possibly 2026-27 according to Florida State lawyers, but we expect ESPN to renew this as the terms are very much in their favor).
Games are broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, and ACC Network Extra/ESPN+.
That means Cal fans will only need access to the ESPN suite plus the likely upgraded sports tier that provides the ACC Network to get their full slate of games. There’s more on how to get the ACC Network further down.
Additionally, The CW airs 13 football games and 28 men’s basketball games (plus 9 women’s games) per season through a sublicense from ESPN to Raycom Sports.
Ways to Watch the ACC Network via Cable
While everyone generally has a good sense of how to access the ESPN family of networks, a good percentage of Cal events will end up on the ACC Network (Cal vs. Wake Forest is one such candidate).
Unlike the Pac-12 Network and thanks to the backing of Disney, the ACC Network is available through major cable providers, including:
Charter Spectrum: Available as part of a new Disney carriage agreement.
Verizon Fios: Included in Disney's 2018 carriage agreement.
DirecTV: Available since the network's launch.
AT&T U-Verse and AT&T TV Now: Available since September 2019.
Cox Communications: Added in September 2019.
Dish Network: Available on both satellite TV and Sling TV.
Comcast: Available since November 2021.
Additionally, smaller cable systems through the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), and Vivicast carry ACC Network.
Ways to Watch the ACC Network via Streaming
If you have cut the cable cord, the ACC Network is accessible through various live TV streaming providers:
YouTube TV: Includes ACC Network in its base package, offering unlimited DVR and features like picture-in-picture.
Hulu + Live TV: Provides ACC Network along with other sports networks and local channels. Subscribers can also bundle with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Sling TV: Requires the Sports Extra add-on for ACC Network, offering an affordable option with limited local channels.
DIRECTV Stream: ACC Network is included in the Choice package or higher, offering comprehensive sports coverage.
Fubo: ACC Network is available in the Pro package in areas with coverage, or through the Extra add-on.
Accessing ACC Network Extra (ACCNX)
There will be certain Cal events (football games vs. FCS, non-conference basketball games, Olympic sports) that will overflow the ACC TV streams, so for that they will be available on ESPN+. Cal’s game against UC Davis on Saturday is on ACC Network Extra for example.
ACCN is available to those who have a subscription to ACC Network through their cable or live streaming provider. To access ACCNX, use your provider credentials to log into the ESPN app, ESPN.com, or ESPN+. ACCNX streams events not broadcast on TV include digital exclusives, studio programming, and Olympic sports events.
It’s safe to say that you will have the ability to watch as much Cal football and men’s basketball this year as you’d like.
One thing to also look out for is the CW. In most large markets it shouldn't be a problem getting that channel, but in smaller markets there can be issues with a local CW affiliate not getting picked up on the popular streaming services like YouTube and Hulu. Make sure you can get it before signing up for a service.
For those still making up their minds on a provider, Sling package can access the ACCNX games straight from the Sling app, no need to toggle over to espn+ app. Not sure yet for the ACCNX games if can only join live version or joint at start, think the latter a likely option but could be wrong.