Sports leagues are always trying to find innovative ways to bring more viewers to their games. Some have even looked towards younger audiences. For example, the NFL and Nickelodeon have worked together on youth specific broadcasts of football games on the cable network. For all the hockey fans, there is an interestingly similar event to look forward to called the NHL Big City Greens Classic, which is a joint venture between the NHL, ESPN, and the Disney Channel.
The three companies are teaming up for the first-ever live, animated NHL game telecast. The NHL Big City Greens Classic will air March 14 at 7 p.m. EDT, and will see the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers.
While the main telecast will be available on ESPN and ESPN+, the alternate presentation can be found on ESPN+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney+. It will feature live real-time volumetric animation of players and teams modeled after characters on Disney Branded Television’s Emmy Award-winning animated comedy Big City Greens.
The NHL Big City Greens Classic will leverage NHL Edge positioning data (puck and player tracking) to recreate the action on the ice as it is happening while featuring the series’ characters skating next to animated versions of the NHL players. This real-time animation will be produced in association with ESPN Edge Innovation Center and NHL EDGE Innovation partners Verizon, Beyond Sports, and Silver Spoon.
Unlike the NFL on Nickelodeon, which had child stars doing the color commentary, ESPN talent will call the action for the NHL Big City Greens Classic. Though Big City Greens voice actors such as the Houghton brothers and Marieve Herington, will be featured. Additional details regarding the first-of-its-kind production will be revealed closer to the game.
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