ESPN has announced that it will air its third animated version of a live NHL game on Sunday, April 5th with animated NHL players and characters from Pixar’s “Inside Out” show depicting a live game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers players.

It is the third ESPN/Disney animated NHL presentation created with Sony’s Beyond Sports visualization technology, NHL Edge positional data (NHL Puck and Player Tracking), and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking data.

ESPN+, Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney XD will present the real-time, animated telecast, while the traditional telecast will be available on ESPN. In 2023, the “NHL Big City Greens Classic” featured the Capitals vs. Rangers and was the first-of-its-kind real-time volumetric animation presentation in sports.

"Inside Out Classic" will feature virtually created real-time animation of the action between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers modeled after characters on Pixar’s award-winning franchise Inside Out.

The animated telecast will leverage tracking technology to present the action on the ice in real-time while featuring "Inside Out" characters skating alongside animated versions of the NHL players. Highlights for this year’s animated telecast include:

• The presentation will blend two types of tracking technologies – NHL Edge positional data (NHL Puck and Player Tracking) and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking – to create more dynamic player and character movement to help fans better visualize detailed limb and stick movement and mannerisms.
• Inside the mind of "Inside Out" character Riley, Hockey Island will host the animated presentation where Riley’s Emotions will skate alongside animated versions of the NHL players.
• Using Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator technology, the ESPN commentators calling the action on the animated telecast – Drew Carter, Kevin Weekes and Arda Öcal – will wear virtual reality headsets for motion capture, immersing them in the animated environment of Hockey Island in Riley’s Mind.
• "Inside Out" voice talent will also be featured in the animated presentation, including Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Lewis Black (Anger), Tony Hale (Fear), and Maya Hawke (Anxiety).
• The real-time animated telecast will be produced in association with ESPN Edge Innovation Center and NHL partner, Sony’s Beyond Sports. Driven by Sony’s Beyond Sports’ proprietary virtual recreation technology, the broadcast transforms tracking data from fellow NHL partner Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations into animated action on the ice.

In 2025, ESPN and Sony’s Beyond Sports expanded its agreement to continue to produce alternate telecasts utilizing Disney’s extensive portfolio of Intellectual Property to expand its audience. Along with Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations and the use of state-of-the-art technology, ESPN has already produced multiple animated alternate telecasts under the new agreement.

"Inside Out Classic" will be available internationally on Disney+ in Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa (live, no replay), and Europe. Video on demand will also be available in most markets, including the United States and its territories, on Disney+ shortly after the real-time telecast.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The rebrand of the old NBC Sports Washington network has gone live with the launch of Monumental Sports Network and the announcement that the rebranded regional sports network will be offering a host of new features and digital experiences for its coverage of the 2023-24 NBA and NHL seasons. 

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), the parent company which acquired the network in 2022, announced the rebranding in June of 2023, which took place on Sept. 20. The linear channel is available at the same channel number where NBC Sports Washington was formerly found via pay TV providers. 

"Since acquiring NBC Sports Washington one year ago to the day, we have spent every day since building what we believe will be the best local media experience for the greatest fans in all of sports," said Zach Leonsis, president of media & new enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment. "Our fans deserve the best experience possible, so we challenged ourselves to push every standard and deliver an extraordinary media platform. We're excited to begin the network's transformation this month with additional plans to unveil several significant upgrades throughout the course of the Capitals and Wizards regular seasons."

Monumental Sports Network is also building a brand-new production plant and broadcast studio, set to be delivered by early 2024 – located right next to Capital One Arena, at Gallery Place. 

This two-story, SMPTE 2110 facility will feature two major league quality studios which can also combine on non-conflict nights to create one single regional telecast worthy experience. The facility will also feature two insert studios and five control rooms to produce multiple events simultaneously.

Upon the opening of the new production plant and studios, Monumental Sports Network plans to upgrade its video quality from 1080i (shooting at 30 frames per second) to 1080p (shooting at 60 frames per second) so fans can enjoy their favorite live and original programs in stunning HD. The new facility is also built to upgrade its video quality to 4K in the future. In addition, Monumental Sports Network will plan to pursue its alternate telecast strategy upon the opening of the new facility. Further announcements will be made this winter.

"While the local media ecosystem continues to evolve, we seek to build the exemplar local media platform in all of sports. The value of live sports rights continues to grow, which is why we are so confident in making these significant investments back into our local rights," continued Leonsis. "We will do more with our live rights than ever before, upgrading the existing live experience, and producing more programming to the benefit of our fans and business partners. We look forward to debuting many more additional upgrades and enhancements throughout the NBA and NHL regular seasons."

A key part of the relaunch is enhanced video functionality for live-streaming of games with authentication of their Pay TV credentials, on-demand viewing of original programming and game replays, exclusive behind the scenes content and more, the network reported. Monumental Sports Network's new digital presence is also optimized across desktop, tablet, and mobile experiences. Users who had the previous Monumental Sports Network app downloaded on their digital devices will receive a new version of the app via a standard app update.

Additional features of the new digital experience include: 

• Access to multiple camera angles during live games with additional functionality including the ability to rewind and watch in slow motion.
• Personalization features that tailor a user's experience towards their favorite teams and players.
• Access to hundreds of hours of original behind-the-scenes programming, new shows including Hometown with Rachel Nichols and much more.
• Ability to watch Monumental Sports Network's live, 24/7 linear feed on-the-go on multiple devices.
• Opt-in ability to receive score alerts, team and player updates, as well as a new Monumental Sports Network newsletter.
• Daily editorial and video clips covering the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, and Go-Go which can be saved to a user's list for later viewing.
• Sportradar integrations providing users with advanced, real-time sports data and betting analytics.
• Ticketmaster integration for ticket management and account linking.
• Consistent look and feel across all platforms, allowing for an intuitive experience across all devices.
• Pay TV subscribers receive all these benefits for free by signing in with their TV Everywhere (TVE) credentials on Monumental Sports Network's online and mobile platforms.

Monumental Sports Network partnered on these enhancements with ViewLift, a leading end-to-end digital platform developer providing OTT distribution solutions for content owners across multiple device platforms, including web, mobile, connected TV devices, smart TVs and gaming consoles, to design and develop the brand-new digital experience.

The network also announced a number of improvements to the linear channel. These include new branding and a new logo as well as new programming. 

Other enhancements include: 

• New Digital Properties: The digital experience is available on desktop, mobile, tablet, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. It features all the live programming, on-demand game replays and TV episodes, and exclusive behind-the-scenes digital content.
• New Social Channels: Follow us at @MonSportsNet on X, Instagram, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
• New Paid Media Campaign: Monumental Sports Network is partnering with Gupta Media to launch its first-ever ad campaign and will be seen in print, online and out-of-home boards around the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.
• New Visuals Inside Capital One Arena: Fans attending games and events can expect to see Monumental Sports Network signage around the venue as well as on the court and ice during game intermissions.
• New Fan Engagement Opportunities: Check out the "Rock the Red Carpet" event during the Capitals Opening Night on October 13 where Monumental Sports Network will provide live coverage and host a station for fans to win fun prizes. Throughout the Capitals and Wizards seasons, Monumental Sports Network will host watch parties for fans throughout the DMV.
• New Digital Newsletter: Sent three times a week, the Network's newsletter will keep fans up to date on the latest programming, as well as a roundup of the best digital content from our network and our teams.

ARLINGTON, Va.—The NHL season is underway, currently without fans. The Washington Capitals, however, have partnered with video technology company Kiswe to try and capture the in-venue experience for fans via a Virtual Gameday second-screen experience.

Virtual Gameday, presented by NBC Sports Washington, is a second-screen experience that will be available on mobile and electronic devices. Features include a recorded National Anthem by Capitals’ anthem singers, timeout and intermission sponsored activations and entertainment featuring Capitals in-arena host Sandra Draganoiu and PA announcer Wes Johnson.

The Virtual Gameday also features pre-game player warmups, the player introduction video and starting lineups, as well as live game stats. There will also be a chat feature to discuss the game with fellow fans. Fans can create an account for Capitals home games.

Virtual Gameday is designed to be combined with game broadcasts on NBC Sports Washington.

Additional elements are expected to be added throughout the season.

The Washington Wizards, which like the Capitals is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, previously announced their own Virtual Gameday experience in December.

WASHINGTON—Major league sports franchises, whether moving into new arenas or not, understand the effect of offering enhanced video content for fans who can enjoy watching a game on their big screens at home—and thus demand even bigger, crisper images when they dole out their cash for expensive game tickets.

To that point, upgraded center hungs have also debuted at existing arenas in Chicago, Philadelphia and at Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s (MSE) Capital One Arena, home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

The Washington, D.C., venue’s new center-hung display, the third in its 22-year history and part of the arena’s $30 million arena upgrade, was built by Sunrise, Fla.-based Colosseo USA. It’s billed as “one of the largest 360-degree continuous video screens of any arena in the United States” and encompasses more than 7,000 total square feet of Smart LED display. With the featured eight-sided, multi-level display key to its total of 20 distinct display areas, it also delivers real-time stats, scores and updates.

And like the new center-hung at Chase Center (and others), the board at Cap One has LED screens within the underbelly of the 360-degree lower ring for the viewers seated on the floor and in the first several rows of seating.

MSE notes that the setup includes “the first-ever 4mm pixel pitch” within a display that takes up less space to store in the ceiling when not in use, as it retracts into itself; so while it’s larger than the previous board, “it requires less space” to store, said David Touhey, president of venues and vice president of technical broadcast operations for MSE.

Also part of the video experience are updated upper and lower fascia ribbon boards with 1,600 square feet of LED, plus two new end zone ribbons, adding more than 1,040 additional square feet of LED display; four two-sided, curved DualTV boards in the corners of the arena, with more than more than 2,200 square feet of HD LED video display arena-side and 1,100 square feet of the same for fans in the upper level; and “for the first time in an indoor arena” a SkyRing that features more than 9,000 square feet of LED video, wrapping the roofline of the arena bowl. At 390 feet in diameter, MSE calls it “the largest display in any U.S. arena to date.”

All told, Cap One offers 25,000 square feet of LED under roof.

For capture, MSE included five new cameras with the install: three SMPTE Sony HCD-2500s and two Fujinon XDCAMs. The controller used to load and playback content is supplied by Colosseo, which uses Colosseo proprietary software.

The upgrade is all part of keeping up not only with new venues and new installs, but the demands of the fans. “It gives us much more square footage to work with so we can deliver more content, stats,” etc., said Touhey, “as well as more inventory to sell to sponsors.”