ESPN has expanded its collaboration with Sony’s Beyond Sports, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and technology-driven storytelling aimed at engaging broader audiences. Working alongside Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations, ESPN and Beyond Sports will continue to produce alternate animated telecasts.
These broadcasts will leverage Disney’s vast portfolio of intellectual property, transforming live gameplay into real-time animated experiences, a concept first introduced by ESPN in 2023, a media release said.
Under the new agreement, ESPN will produce animated telecasts for a NFL, NHL, NBA, and WNBA game across The Walt Disney Company and ESPN platforms during the 2025–26 season. Additional alternate broadcasts are also planned for the 2026–27 sports calendar year.
ESPN vice president, sports business development & innovation Kevin Lopes said, “At ESPN, innovation has always been a driver in serving sports fans, including reaching new audiences. The Beyond Sports team has 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.”
Beyond Sports managing director & co-founder Sander J. Schouten added, “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.”
