• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 24, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

The NBA Wants Its Own ManningCast

  • Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson poised to debut alternate telecast on NBA League Pass.
  • The NBA is currently talking with ESPN and Turner about creating more second feeds for viewers.
Design: Alex Brooks

Heads up, NFL. The NBA is ordering up more alternate game telecasts similar to Omaha Productions’ popular ManningCast with Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.

The league is expected to announce an alternate telecast co-starring Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson for NBA League Pass, its subscription-based product that provides access to hundreds of live and on-demand games.

Starting Thursday, Crawford and Richardson are expected to provide their own weekly commentary for the next 10 weeks.

The 41-year old Crawford was one of the greatest players off the bench in league history. He boasts 1.5 million followers on Twitter. Richardson, also 41, co-hosts the “Knuckleheads” podcast with Darius Miles on The Players’ Tribune.

Meanwhile, the NBA is ramping up “conversations” with national TV partners ESPN and Turner Sports about creating more alternate telecasts, sources told Front Office Sports. The goal: lure viewers who might not tune in for linear basketball telecasts on ABC/ESPN and TNT.

Some formats could be similar to the Manning brothers’ “Monday Night Football” MegaCast on ESPN2 and ESPN+: an unscripted conversation between two smart, funny stars. 

Others could be focused on the lucrative world of sports betting. Or take aim at elusive younger viewers (think CBS’ “NFL on Nickelodeon” production for kids). Or target more casual viewers like ABC’s coverage of the NFL Draft.  

The NBA has has offered viewers more alternate telecasts than any league. Viewers want more choice beyond traditional game telecasts that have been virtually unchanged for decades, according to John Kosner, president of Kosner Media. He calls MegaCasts “the future” of sports broadcasting.

“Fans want choice — and the Internet makes that possible. The ManningCast has been a huge success because it offers authentic access to star athletes and it’s both informative and fun,” said the consultant, who previously led digital media at ESPN.

“This same approach is possible in all the major sports in any number of ways — to offer home team coverage, to get deeper into X’s and O’s, and strategies, to cater to different audiences like kids, and, perhaps, most important, to offer true interactivity, like Kyler Murray on Twitch. We are just getting started.”

But the Super Bowl-winning Manning brothers would be a tough TV act to follow. Look for the image-savvy NBA to avoid positioning any new alternate telecasts as direct competitors to ManningCast, said sources. 

Still, the NBA might be uniquely positioned to create star-studded MegaCasts to rival the ManningCast. 

The 75-year old league boasts global personalities such as TNT’s Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, and ESPN’s Magic Johnson.

Barkley, in fact, was Omaha’s first guest on the ManningCast premiere. Jordan was the star attraction of ESPN’s Chicago Bulls documentary “The Last Dance,” which drew big audiences during the COVID-19 sports shutdown. Johnson will pinch-hit this season for ESPN’s revamped “NBA Countdown” studio show. 

Besides those big names, there’s a long list of opinionated, entertaining NBA personalities who could front MegaCasts, ranging from TNT’s Kenny Smith and Reggie Miller to ESPN’s Jalen Rose and Kendrick Perkins.

While the NFL and Mannings are rightly earning plaudits for the ManningCast, the NBA and its TV partners have been ahead of the curve on alternate telecasts:

— In May, ESPN presented a Marvel-themed telecast of an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans. The “Marvel’s Arena of Heroes” game featured comic book heroes like Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Captain America. It was shown on ESPN2, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes.

— This April, ESPN debuted its first-ever betting-driven telecast of an NBA game. While the traditional telecast of the Brookly Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers aired on ESPN, an alternate “Daily Wager” version of the game appeared on ESPN2 and ESPN. This telecast featured “Daily Wager” sports betting analysts Doug Kezirian, Joe Fortenbaugh, and Tyler Fulghum calling the game from ESPN’s studio in Las Vegas.

The NBA is the dominant sports brand on Twitter. On Wednesday, the league announced it was renewing its content deal with the social media giant. The league will provide highlights, live content and Twitter Moments. It will also offer 40 free Twitter Spaces events, where fans can listen to live audio chats, according to Variety.

Whatever form they take, these secondary feeds are meant to enhance, not replace, the traditional game broadcast — at least for now.

The ManningCast has proven to be a boon for both ESPN and the venerable MNF franchise. 

During Monday night’s Kansas City Chiefs-New York Giants, game, the Mannings delivered their biggest-ever audience, averaging 1.96 million viewers. That was up 22% from Week 7.

They have generated the four most-watched alternate telecasts in ESPN history. Through Week 8, MNF is averaging 13.7 million viewers. That’s up 17% from the same period during the 2020 and 2019 seasons.

To keep things fresh, Omaha can book just about any A-Lister as a guest. Over five games, the Mannings have hosted Tom Brady, LeBron James, Brett Favre, Josh Allen, Michael Strahan, Ray Lewis, Jon Stewart and Nick Saban. Even when they’re in different cities, they have the camaraderie of brothers who grew up in the same household.

“It’s authentic. Peyton, Eli, and the guests all want to be there,” said Eric Weinberger, the former executive vice president of NFL Network who now heads his own production company. “Peyton is on the Barkley, [John] McEnroe, [John] Madden communication level. And Eli shows great timing and humor.”

The NFL is not sitting still when it comes to MegaCasts.

ESPN’s parent company Disney is exploring its own kids-focused game telecast that could feature Star Wars or Marvel characters, sources tell FOS. During its recent media negotiations, the NFL gave all its rights partners (ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox and Amazon) the green light to produce their own alternate game telecasts, said sources. 

The NFL is encouraging all of its media partners to “think of new and different ways” to engage current fans and attract new ones, said one source. 

Said Weinberger: “I’m sure every network and content executive is trying to cook this up for other sports. This works so well because it feels independent and out from under anything corporate.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley Could Still Be Charged in Gambling Probe Despite Feds Dropping..

Beasley’s lawyer is hoping his client can return to the NBA.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

MLB Confident New Rights Will Exceed $550M ESPN Deal

MLB would redistribute rights forfeited by ESPN back in February.
Aug 5, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to drive past New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) in the third quarter at Barclays Center.

Man Arrested for Throwing Dildo at Liberty Game

After police released his photo, the man turned himself in.

Featured Today

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
August 22, 2025

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.

Fox Enters Streaming Wars With Leaner, Sports-Heavy Approach

A different strategy marks the arrival of the network’s streaming service.
August 20, 2025

Bundesliga Bets on YouTube Creators for Live U.K. Game Streams

Bundesliga is the top German soccer league.
HAPPY GILMORE 2. (L to R) Quin Stiller as Will Zalatoris Caddie, Will Zalatoris as Himself, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as Oscar Mejias and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in Happy Gilmore2.
August 21, 2025

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched U.S. Movie Debut

The Adam Sandler, golf-themed movie sets more streaming records.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
Jey Uso and Pat McAfee look at each other after Uso’s win Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
August 20, 2025

WWE Will Leave Peacock for ESPN 6 Months Early

Peacock’s final show will be “Clash in Paris” on Aug. 31.
August 20, 2025

NFL Preseason Games Are Popping Up on YouTube’s Sunday Ticket

The $2 billion out-of-market package covers only the regular season.
August 20, 2025

Inside ESPN’s ‘Industry Shaping’ DTC Plan, What’s at Stake

Many bundle offers and opaque metrics mark the high-profile launch.
Kyle Busch talks with Nexstar Media Group, Wednesday February 14, 2024 during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway
August 19, 2025

$6.2B Nexstar-Tegna Deal Could Create Local Sports Juggernaut

CW parent company Nexstar looks to acquire its rival in a major deal.