Mickey, Minnie and Donald Duck will participate in the broadcast, cheering on the players and giving speeches during the broadcast
and will broadcast a special edition of the Christmas game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in partnership with Disney. Titled “Dunk The Halls”, the exhibition will feature animated characters from the studio. The NBA launched the initiative on Tuesday (Nov 20, 2024) and highlighted that this will be the first time that an event like this has taken place in the North American basketball league.
Viewers will be able to watch the alternative broadcast on ESPN2, while the traditional version will be available on ESPN and ABC channels. Additionally, streaming services ESPN+ and Disney+ will offer both versions.
Sony will use “Beyond Sports” technology to recreate the game, placing it in the “Main Street USA” setting at Magic Kingdom. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and other characters will interact with players and star in special moments.
During halftime, the NBA will host a dunk contest featuring Disney characters. Meanwhile, Santa’s helpers will take over camera control duties, and Santa himself will operate ESPN’s famous “SkyCam.”
NFL broadcast with the Simpsons
ESPN also confirmed that it will transform the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys into an experience inspired by the series The Simpsons on December 9th. The match will be available on Disney+ and ESPN+ platforms, using technology that converts real movements into real-time animations.
Bart and Homer Simpson, along with narrators wearing virtual reality glasses, will be part of the broadcast in the fictional Atoms Stadium.
The production combines data from NFL Next Gen Stats, Sony’s Beyond Sports and Hawk-Eye Innovations to achieve maximum accuracy. The event will be available in 145 countries, expanding the global reach of ESPN’s innovative broadcasts. In 2023, the broadcaster achieved success with a version in the style Toy Storywhich attracted 4.5 million viewers and won 3 Emmy Awards.
