Seen on Screen: Drivers Take to the Track on iRacing on Fox Sports; ESPN Honors Kobe Bryant’s Back-to-Back Titles

Seen on Screen provides a roundup of the current sports programming landscape as networks deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In this week’s edition, major networks like NBC Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN are combating the silence of no live sports with previously-released, taped, or archival content. Many networks have also continued producing live studio content – often with on-air talent located remotely.

iRacing will continue on traditional outlets with Fox Sports’ presentation on Wednesday, April 15. The event will consist of two races with the first race being UMP Modifieds at the virtual Volusia Speedway Park and the second one being Ferrari, Prsche, BMW, and Ford GT GTE cars at the virtual Lime Rock Park.

Famous drivers will be taking part in the festivities, including Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power, Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps, Scott Speed, Bobby Labonte, Chase Briscoe, Santino Ferruci, Christopher Bell, Scott McLaughlin, and Partick Long.

The action starts at 7 p.m. ET on Fs1 and the Fox Sports app…

…In this week’s Wednesday night Best of the NBA presented by State Farm series, ESPN will re-air Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals and Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, both won by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals, Bryant wins his first Finals MVP as the Lakers defeat Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, making it Bryant’s first NBA title since Shaquille O’Neal’s departure. In Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Bryant and the Lakers defeat 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics in a heated rivalry series.

Prior to the games, Hoop Streams, will be live on Twitter and the ESPN App beginning at 6:30 p.m. with host Cassidy Hubbarth, and analysts Kendrick Perkins and Amin Elhassan to reflect on the Lakers’ back-to-back titles. All shows will be available on YouTube upon conclusion of the live show.

On Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m., the semifinals and finals of the NBA HORSE Challenge presented by State Farm will air with 2004 NBA Finals MVP and ESPN analyst Chauncey Billups up against Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley in the semifinals and three-time WNBA All-Star Allie Quigley against two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine…

…ELEAGUE and Warner Bros have partnered to present the top Mortal Kombat 11 esports tournament – Final Kombat 2020 – through a new feature program set to premiere Friday, April 17, at Midnight ET on TBS.

The two-hour special, ELEAGUE Presents Mortal Kombat 11 Final Kombat, will take fans on an all-access tour of Final Kombat 2020, which was held in early March at Chicago’s historic Park West theater. The show will offer an in-depth look at the competitors as they played their way toward the championship title for the Mortal Kombat 11 Pro Kompetition.

Final Kombat 2020 saw the 16 most skilled Mortal Kombat 11 players from around the world compete in a double-elimination bracket with $100,000 in prize money on the line. The event saw a collection of fan-favorite FGC leaders participate, including former EVO winner and Esports Player of the Year, Dominique “SonicFox” McLean. McLean entered the tournament with a bold objective to win the finals using DC’s The Joker character, in a bid to follow up the Injustice 2 Pro Series 2018 title. A win would be McLean’s second world championship across two different NetherRealm fighting games using The Joker. Final Kombat also featured former ELEAGUE champion Ryan “Dragon” Walker and unsung hopeful Jarrad “NinjaKilla212” Gordon…

…CBS Sports’ programming schedule leading into the 2020 NFL Draft is being highlighted by re-airs of classic NFL on CBS games on CBS and CBS Sports Network from Thursday, April 16 through Wednesday, April 22. The broadcasts on CBS and CBS Sports Network will help raise awareness for COVID-19 relief efforts and promote the “Draft-A-Thon” – a three-day virtual fundraiser being held during the NFL Draft to support charities that are battling the spread of COVID-19 and delivering relief to millions in need.

Some of the games featured include Tom Brady and Peyton Manning leading their respective teams to Super Bowl victories, classic AFC Championship Games in which the two rivals matched up against each other; memorable games in Patrick Mahomes’ career including the 2019 AFC Championship Game victory and 2018 AFC Championship Game against Brady; as well as the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game known as “The Tuck Rule” game, and games featuring the NFL’s next generation of brightest young stars.

CBS Sports’ broadcast coverage will be available to stream live on the CBS All Access subscription service.

Click HERE for a full schedule.