NBC’s Peacock streaming service is set to host its first alternate broadcast of an NFL game, uniquely combining live action with a video game overlay from EA Sports’ Madden universe. The innovative venture, scheduled for the Houston Texans-Kansas City Chiefs game on December 21st, 2024, will begin at 1 p.m. eastern time.
This immersive experience, a collaboration between NBC Sports, Peacock, the National Football League, EA Sports, and Genius Sports, will seamlessly integrate Madden NFL 25 graphics, route trees, play cards, and player ratings. Touchdowns will be celebrated with animated elements from the game, rather than solely focusing on the live-action field. The broadcast leverages the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and GeniusIQ, Genius Sports’ advanced data and AI platform, to create a truly data-powered football experience.
The broadcast will feature a dedicated commentary team, including NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister on play-by-play; former NFL quarterback, YouTuber, and Madden expert Kurt Benkert providing analysis using graphic overlays; and six-time Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco acting as a real-time player “ratings adjuster.” Pro Madden NFL player Henry Leverette, the first to earn $1 million in career earnings, will also contribute.
The broadcast will be produced by Steve Greenberg and directed by Geoff Butler, under the supervision of NBC Sports’ Executive Producer of NFL, Fred Gaudelli. Available on-demand on Peacock until December 28th, 2024, the Madden NFL Cast builds upon Peacock’s previous sports broadcasting successes, including the AFC Wild Card Game and the 2024 Paris Olympics coverage.
While this represents NBC’s first NFL altcast, other networks have explored similar concepts. CBS offers at least one each season, often linked to its animated series brands, while ABC and ESPN offer the “ManningCast.” Amazon Prime Video adds a data-driven “Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats” to its “Thursday Night Football” productions. The execution of this altcast is weather-dependent due to visibility requirements.