Under the brand new deal, ESPN will produce 4 animated telecasts through the 2025–26 season; further tasks deliberate for 2026–27
ESPN is deepening its collaboration with Sony’s Beyond Sports, extending a partnership that has powered the community’s rising slate of animated alternate telecasts. Under the brand new deal, ESPN will produce 4 animated telecasts through the 2025–26 season, with further tasks deliberate for 2026–27.
The relationship amongst ESPN, Beyond Sports, and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations has produced a sequence of alternate broadcasts that convert stay sports activities motion into real-time animation utilizing Disney’s library of mental property. The idea debuted in 2023 and has since expanded to a number of leagues, together with the NFL, NHL, NBA, and WNBA.
“At ESPN, innovation has always been a driver in serving sports fans, including reaching new audiences,” Kevin Lopes, Vice President, Sports Business Development & Innovation, ESPN mentioned in an official launch from the community. “Sony’s Beyond Sports and their team have helped fuel our animated alternate casts, along with our league partners, creating an entirely new way for fans to consume our content. We look forward to continuing to produce these unique experiences for fans both this year and in the years ahead.”
Sander J. Schouten, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Beyond Sports, added within the launch, “The addition of four new telecasts this season will bring our total with ESPN to nine — a reflection of how this partnership continues to grow year on year. Enabled by our technology, together we’re driving the evolution of fan engagement, creating new ways for fans to experience the game and redefining live sports storytelling.”
The collaboration started with the NHL Big City Greens Classic in 2023, adopted by NFL’s Funday Football specials, which leveraged the league’s Next Gen Stats and Disney’s Toy Story and Simpsons IP. The NBA’s Dunk the Halls and a second Big City Greens Classic in 2024 additional demonstrated the format’s versatility throughout sports activities.
ESPN analysis has proven that these animated telecasts appeal to new and youthful audiences, usually fostering co-viewing between mother and father and youngsters. Many non-sports followers have additionally engaged with the broadcasts, drawn by the leisure issue and acquainted Disney characters.
Alternate telecasts are a long-standing a part of ESPN’s manufacturing DNA. The firm has experimented with secondary viewing choices for greater than 20 years, most notably by its MegaCast format, launched in 2014, and Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, now in its fifth season.