ESPN’s coverage of the XFL playoffs this weekend will include an alternative announcer-less SkyCast on ESPN+ that will instead turn electronic communications between coaches and players into the main audio feed.
During Sunday’s XFL North Division Championship Game between the Seattle Sea Dragons and D.C. Defenders at 3 p.m. ET, the ESPN+ "Enhanced Audio SkyCast" will eschew traditional broadcasters and rely only on immersive sound effects. The audio will include coach-to-player interaction, head coach and player microphones, natural stadium sound and the in-venue public address system. In addition, the primary camera angle will be ESPN’s SkyCam, which it usually saves for Monday Night Football and its college football MegaCasts.
During Saturday’s South Division Championship between Arlington Renegades and Houston Roughnecks at 7 p.m. ET, the ESPN+ alternative SkyCast will feature only natural sound and the stadium public address system to give the viewer a true sense of attending the game. The primary camera feed will also be SkyCam.
ESPN is also expected to produce another tech-centric alternative broadcast for the XFL Championship Game at San Antonio’s Alamodome on May 13th.
