NBC’s Peacock streaming service will debut its first alternate broadcast of an NFL game, a groundbreaking fusion of live action and video game elements. This innovative venture, scheduled for the Houston Texans-Kansas City Chiefs game on December 21, 2024, will seamlessly blend the live matchup with the engaging world of EA Sports’ Madden universe. Both the game and the altcast begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.
This collaborative effort, involving NBC Sports, Peacock, the National Football League, EA Sports, and Genius Sports, promises an immersive, data-driven live football experience. Madden NFL’s distinctive elements will be incorporated as animated overlays, enhancing the viewing experience. NBC highlights that touchdowns will be celebrated with animated visuals rather than a replay of the on-field action in the altcast.
The broadcast will leverage live EA Sports Madden NFL 25 graphics, route trees, play cards, and player ratings. The “Madden NFL Cast” will transform how viewers understand football strategy and information through the power of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and GeniusIQ, Genius Sports’ advanced data and AI platform. GeniusIQ's real-time data and branded animations create a truly immersive viewing experience.
The live stream, exclusive to Peacock, boasts a dedicated commentary team. NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister will handle play-by-play; former NFL quarterback, YouTuber, and Madden NFL expert Kurt Benkert will use graphic overlays to analyze and predict plays; and six-time Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will serve as a real-time player “ratings adjuster.” Joining them will be pro Madden NFL player Henry Leverette, a significant figure in the Madden NFL Championship Series.
The EA Sports Madden NFL Cast is produced by Steve Greenberg and directed by Geoff Butler, under the leadership of NBC Sports’ Executive Producer of NFL, Fred Gaudelli. The production will be available on-demand on Peacock until December 28, 2024. This innovative broadcast builds on Peacock's successful sports streaming this year, including the record-setting AFC Wild Card Game and the 2024 Paris Olympics coverage.
The success of the Madden NFL Cast is weather-dependent, requiring sufficient visibility. While this is NBC’s first NFL altcast, other networks offer similar productions, such as CBS with its animated series-based altcasts, ABC and ESPN's "ManningCast," and Amazon Prime Video's data-driven "Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats".