Disney and ESPN will livestream an animated version of an NFL game this winter set in the cartoon world of The Simpsons.
Zoom in: The animated game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys will stream live on ESPN+ and Disney+ on Dec. 9, alongside ESPN and ABC's presentation of the actual Monday Night Football game, per the Hollywood Reporter.
Classic Simpsons characters will make appearances throughout the program with unique bits and skits co-developed by the NFL, ESPN and The Simpsons' production team. The game will feature voice actors from the show.
Why it matters: Animated alternate telecasts (dubbed "alt casts") are part of a broader effort by the NFL to lure younger viewers.
Last year, Disney+ aired an animated NFL game on a Sunday morning, set in the fictional world of Toy Story.
The league has partnered with Paramount on Nickelodeon-themed NFL alt-casts since 2021. Earlier this year, it debuted its first Super Bowl alt-cast with Nickelodeon, averaging more than 1.2 million viewers.
