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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Waiting nearly three years to launch the ACC Network’s linear channel wasn’t done by accident.

With more households “cutting the chord” — switching from traditional cable to online streaming and digital platforms — ESPN and the ACC intentionally gave the network enough time to adjust to the ever-evolving landscape.

Hence the announcement to finally launch the oft-wondered about ACC Network in 2019.

“We are acutely aware of the environment,” ESPN president John Skipper said Thursday morning at the ACC Football Kickoff. “But sports content continues to be the most valuable content in this environment and we’re confident the ACC Network will bring great value and we’ll be able to have good discussions with our distributors.

Adding later: “The timeframe of 2019 takes into account a variety of factors, including the content in which we have currently licensed. ... We wanted to provide ourselves with some runway to plan the network, to get the distribution deals done, to figure out the staffing, etc., etc. So that was deliberate.”

As was ramping up the launch of ACC Network Extra — the conference’s digital platform — this August, part of the 20-year agreement with ESPN that will run through the 2035-36 school year.