Disney and ESPN will air an alt-cast of Mickey Mouse for Knicks-Spurs this Christmas
It will be a Mickey Mouse production for the NBA on ESPN.
On Christmas Day, the network and the league will continue the trend of presenting alternate broadcasts when the New York Knicks face the San Antonio Spurs at noon, Disney announced Wednesday.
While the traditional broadcast will be available on places like ESPN and ABC, ESPN2 will have what is being dubbed as “Dunk The Halls,” the first animated game in NBA history. Both versions will be available on the streaming services ESPN+ and Disney+.
The presentation utilizes Sony’s ‘Beyond Sports Technology’ by recreating the gaming action of stars such as Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson in Magic Kingdom’s ‘Main Street USA’. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy and Chip and Dale will cheer on the players and give pre-game and halftime speeches.
During intermission, the Disney characters compete against each other in a slam dunk contest.
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After a long night of work, Santa’s helpers have been hired to operate the cameras, while Santa himself will operate ESPN’s “SkyCam” during the game.
Drew Carter, Monica McNutt and sideline reporter Daisy Duck make up the trio on air. The traditional broadcast will feature Ryan Ruocco and Corey Alexander, with Cassidy Hubbarth on the sidelines.
ESPN said in its release that fans will also find out if there will be snow on “Main Street,” though it’s doubtful whether betting sites will accept bets (a white Christmas is a big favorite nonetheless). If that’s not enough to entice viewers, Goofy will see how many churros he can eat.
The broadcast continues the trend of alternative broadcasts. In 2021, the NBA and ESPN teamed up with Disney Marvel characters for an alt cast.
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(Photo: Courtesy of ESPN)
