NESN To Launch Two New Series in September, Expand ACC Multi-sport Rights Agreement

NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, announced plans to launch two new original series in September with AT&T Schooled: NESN’s College Face Off on Tuesday, Sept. 6 and Inside Roush Fenway Racing on Sept. 13. The network also announced a multi-year, multi-sport rights agreement to air Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) events.

AT&T Schooled: NESN’s College Face Off

With students returning to college campuses throughout New England, NESN will kick off this seven episode series on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 5:30 PM when Northeastern takes on Maine. A unique competitive trivia/reality series, AT&T Schooled: NESN’s College Face Off will feature three students representing eight different New England colleges as they go head-to-head in a single-elimination tournament. Hosted by comedian Michael Showalter, AT&T Schooled will test the contestants’ IQs in pressurized, time sensitive situations, all to gain regional bragging rights.

Inside Roush Fenway Racing

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins in September and NESN brings NASCAR fans closer to the action than ever before with Inside Roush Fenway Racing, premiering on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 5:30 PM. The weekly program will take racing fans on a thrilling ride inside the world of one of NASCAR’s most successful teams every Tuesday evening. The show will feature regular appearances by Roush Fenway drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne along with Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush. Hosted by Chuck Howard, the series will be produced by NASCAR Media Group exclusively for NESN.

ACC Multi-sport Rights Agreement

The new agreement expands on the network’s six-year partnership with the conference to include a weekly ACC football game in addition to over 30 men’s basketball telecasts. Also included as part of the agreement will be live coverage of women’s basketball regular season and conference tournament games plus baseball, softball, lacrosse, and the weekly program ACC All-Access.  All football and men’s/women’s basketball telecasts will be produced in HD.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with the ACC to include a weekly football game, giving New England sports fans a chance to see some of the best college football in the nation,” said Sean McGrail, NESN’s president and CEO.

NESN’s season-long coverage of ACC football will begin this Saturday, Sept. 3 at 3:30 PM when North Carolina hosts James Madison. Additional matchups scheduled to air on NESN in September include:

Sept. 10 – North Carolina State at Wake Forest – 3:30 PM
Sept. 17 – Kansas at Georgia Tech – 12:30 PM
Sept. 17 – Arkansas State at Virginia Tech – 4:00 PM

Matchups for the remainder of the schedule will be announced on a week-to-week basis.

As part of the new agreement, NESN will also feature live coverage of the 12th ranked Boston College women’s soccer team on September 22 at 8:00 PM when they travel to 3rd ranked Maryland.

A full schedule of all the ACC games that will air NESN will be available later this month at NESN.com.