Toy Story pals join ABC’s Athletes Unlimited softball showcase
Disney and ESPN are giving the AUSL championship series extra muscle, with Woody, Jessie and a bigger broadcast plan on deck.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Woody and Jessie are being sent in as Disney and ESPN put extra shine on the Athletes Unlimited Softball League championship series, Variety reported.
The “Toy Story” characters are scheduled to appear before Saturday’s opening game on ABC, leading a parade with youth softball players and joining the ceremonial first pitch, according to the report. Footage from those moments will be worked into the ABC broadcast.
Variety reported that the game is set to be the first professional softball matchup shown on broadcast television. The moment gives AUSL a bigger stage as Disney continues putting more resources behind newer sports properties and women’s leagues.
Allie Kleva, chief growth officer at Athletes Unlimited, told Variety the league is focused on expanding its reach. “Our mission right now is to grow this league, to grow our audience, to introduce professional softball and our athletes to folks across the country,” Kleva said. “Having ‘Toy Story’ engage with us just elevates the property.”
ESPN steps into the production booth
The championship series will also bring a shift behind the cameras. Variety reported that ESPN will produce the games, after AUSL handled production itself in earlier seasons.
ESPN’s setup will include 23 cameras, according to Variety. The package includes three super-slow-motion cameras, a drone and the Megalodon shallow-depth-of-field handheld camera. One player from each team will also wear a live microphone during the games.
Joelle Downes, vice president of ESPN and Disney Consumer Products Synergy, told Variety the character crossover gives the league a wider opening. “It’s a really natural way to introduce the league to broader and younger audiences,” Downes said.
A young league gets a bigger spotlight
AUSL is still early in its run. Variety reported that the league, operated by Athletes Unlimited, launched in earnest last year and plays a 30-game regular season. Major League Baseball is an investor in the league, according to the report.
The broadcast push places AUSL in front of audiences beyond its usual sports lane, with Disney using one of its best-known animated franchises to pull families and younger viewers toward the championship series.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. on ESPN, Variety reported. If the series needs a deciding third game, it is slated for Monday on ESPN2.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.