Jamie Horowitz’s contributions define Omaha Productions’ transition from startup to sports content heavyweight. As president and co-founder with Peyton Manning since December 2020, Horowitz applied his production expertise to build a company now valued at approximately $800 million.
Prior to launching Omaha Productions, Horowitz had already left his mark on sports television. At ESPN, he reimagined “First Take” by emphasizing debate formats and personality-driven segments. His work at Fox Sports, developing shows like “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe, furthered his reputation for creating programming that prioritized authentic reactions over conventional analysis.
“While working at ESPN in the early 2010’s, Horowitz recognized that the network’s debate-style programming often outperformed other types of content in the channel’s ratings,” notes an industry analysis on sports media executives who transformed television formats.
From Concept to Cultural Phenomenon
Horowitz’s format development skills materialized with Omaha’s breakthrough hit—the ManningCast. This alternate Monday Night Football broadcast features Peyton and Eli Manning providing unscripted commentary from their homes. The show disrupted traditional sports broadcasting by embracing casual conversation and authenticity.
The ManningCast won Sports Emmy Awards for three consecutive seasons, attracting approximately 1.6 million viewers per episode and drawing younger audiences than typical NFL broadcasts. This success established Omaha’s template: content built around authentic personalities rather than conventional broadcasting approaches.
“The ManningCast changed the trajectory of the business, both in what it did to the zeitgeist and what it did for Peyton internally at the Walt Disney Co.,” said WME Agent Josh Pyatt about the show’s impact on sports media.
Under Horowitz’s direction, Omaha expanded into documentary storytelling through Netflix and ESPN partnerships. Netflix’s “Quarterback,” which chronicled NFL quarterbacks throughout a season, accumulated over 21 million viewing hours in its first week, according to Netflix’s Top 10 viewership data.
Omaha followed with similar documentary projects including “Receiver,” “Starting 5,” and “Full Court Press,” all featuring unprecedented access and narrative-driven approaches.
Business Development Through Key Partnerships
Horowitz secured important business relationships to fuel Omaha’s growth. Peter Chernin’s North Road acquired a minority stake in 2023, providing additional resources and industry connections. In March 2025, Patrick Whitesell’s Silver Lake-backed venture invested in the company, positioning Omaha for its next phase.
“In just four years, Peyton, Jamie, and the hardworking, ambitious team at Omaha have built a dynamic business across multiple high-end content verticals,” noted Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake, when announcing their investment.
Most recently, Omaha signed a first-look scripted television deal with Disney’s 20th Television in April 2025, marking its formal entry into premium scripted content. Their first major project under this deal, “Chad Powers,” stars Glen Powell in a comedy series for Hulu based on a viral sketch from “Eli’s Places.”
Developing Interconnected Content Franchises
Horowitz built interconnected content franchises rather than standalone shows. The “Places” series exemplifies this approach, beginning with “Peyton’s Places” before expanding to “Eli’s Places” (college football), “McEnroe’s Places” (tennis), “Abby’s Places” (soccer), and “Stephanie’s Places” with WWE’s Stephanie McMahon.
According to recent reporting, Omaha continues this expansion with “Rabil’s Places,” focused on lacrosse legend Paul Rabil and the Premier Lacrosse League, premiering on ESPN+.
“Peyton and I launched Omaha to tell uplifting and unifying stories,” Horowitz stated in comments about the company’s content philosophy that guides its production decisions across franchises.
Current Focus and Emerging Projects
Horowitz recently oversaw Omaha’s latest partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment, producing “WWE: UnReal,” a new docuseries for Netflix. This project follows WWE talent development from tryouts through the performance center to television appearances.
The company also made its first major investment, leading a funding round for Good Good Golf, a digital golf content company. This move represents Omaha’s expansion beyond production into investments in complementary media businesses.
Stephen A. Smith, who worked with Horowitz at ESPN, credits him with helping reshape his career trajectory. “Smith made it clear that he has never forgotten how Horowitz’s belief in his potential changed the trajectory of his career,” noted the New York Post in coverage of Smith’s career development.
Industry analysts credit Horowitz with recognizing athlete-led content potential before it became standard practice. His positioning of Peyton Manning as both a retired quarterback and media company leader demonstrated understanding of how audience relationships with athletes function in today’s media environment.
As Omaha Productions expands across platforms and content types, Horowitz’s influence on sports media extends beyond individual shows. He has created a blueprint for athlete-driven media companies that combines entertainment value with authentic storytelling and measured business development.
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