gotchanewsdaily.com 
NBC is working with Genius Sports and EA Sports to create a simulcast of its National Football League (NFL) coverage infused with video game technology.
Confirmed:
- ‘EA Sports Madden NFL Cast’ combines real time data from Next Gen Stats with fully branded animations powered by the Madden game engine
- Examples include live graphics, route trees, play cards and player ratings
- System is enabled by Genius Sports’ GeniusIQ artificial intelligence (AI) platform
- Feed will be available on NBC’s Peacock streaming service
Context:
Several major broadcasters in the US now offer simulcasts of their sports coverage, hoping to attract new viewers or serve certain niches. Simulcasts allow rights owners to sweat their assets and extract maximum value from rights by maximising the available audience.
Examples of simulcasts include the Manningcast production of ESPN’s Monday Night Football and CBS’s alternate productions of selected NFL matches. The latter offers child-friendly commentary, on-screen graphics and content, as well as visual filters and slime explosions when a touchdown was scored.
The EA Sports Madden NFL Cast also reflects the rising influence of video games on sport and sports coverage. Whereas video games used to imitate television presentation, the reverse is now true, with player names, mini-maps and real time statistics all core components of modern broadcasts.
Comment:
“We are excited to work with the NFL, EA Sports, and Genius Sports to offer fans the ability to watch Madden NFL come to life like never before exclusively on Peacock, which has established itself as a home for premium live sports and innovative viewing experiences. This first-ever Madden NFL Cast marks a new milestone as Peacock’s first sports alt-cast,” said NBC Sports’ executive producer of NFL Fred Gaudelli, who worked with legendary commentator John Madden, for whom EA Sports’ series is named after.
“At EA Sports, we’re always exploring innovative ways to bring fans closer to the game they love, and the Madden NFL Cast is a groundbreaking step in that direction,” said Andrea Hopelain, general manager and senior vice president of publishing at EA Sports.
“By merging the excitement of live NFL action with the immersive possibilities of augmented reality, we’re redefining how fans experience football. Partnering with NBC Sports, Peacock, the NFL, and Genius Sports on this initiative allows us to deliver a dynamic broadcast that showcases the power of Madden NFL in a whole new way outside the game.”
Coming next:
The simulcast will debut during NBC’s coverage of the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs on 21st December.
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