Executive Jamie Horowitz’s strategic negotiations with Disney’s entertainment division represent a pivotal moment in Omaha Productions’ evolution from sports content specialist to full-service entertainment studio. The first-look scripted deal with Disney’s 20th Television, finalized in early 2025, provides Omaha Productions with the institutional backing necessary to compete in Hollywood’s competitive scripted television marketplace.
The partnership extends Omaha’s existing relationship with Disney’s sports properties, including the Emmy Award-winning ManningCast on ESPN2 and various Places franchise series on ESPN+. However, the scripted deal marks a significant expansion beyond sports content, enabling Horowitz to leverage his sports television expertise while pursuing mainstream entertainment audiences.
Karey Burke, president of 20th Television, praised the collaborative process during Chad Powers development, stating that working with “the incredible team at Omaha Productions while developing and filming ‘Chad Powers’ has been pure joy. They have been true partners at every turn and share our commitment to creative excellence and culture-defining storytelling.”
Strategic Relationship Building
Horowitz’s approach to the Disney partnership reflects his broader philosophy of building sustainable industry relationships rather than pursuing transactional deals. His tenure at ESPN and Fox Sports provided crucial insight into Disney’s corporate culture and decision-making processes, enabling more effective negotiations than typical independent producers could achieve.
The first-look agreement represents more than distribution access—it provides development resources, marketing support, and creative guidance that independent production companies typically cannot access. Executive Jamie Horowitz leveraged these advantages to secure Glen Powell’s participation in Chad Powers, bringing A-list talent to what began as a sports-adjacent comedy concept.
Craig Erwich, Disney Television Group president, emphasized that the project earned its place through creative merit rather than corporate synergy. “It’s not here because of some contract—it’s here because they’ve created something really undeniable,” Erwich stated, validating the content quality that attracted Disney’s institutional support.
Content Strategy Drives Partnership Value
The Disney relationship provides Omaha Productions with distribution muscle across multiple platforms, including ABC, Hulu, and Disney+, while maintaining creative control over content development. This dual-platform strategy reflects Horowitz’s understanding that successful entertainment companies require diversified revenue streams and audience segments.
“Peyton and I launched Omaha to tell uplifting and unifying stories,” Horowitz said when discussing the company’s mission and its alignment with Disney’s brand values. “This partnership allows us to reach broader audiences while maintaining our commitment to authentic storytelling.”
The Chad Powers series serves as the initial test case for this expanded relationship, with Hulu selected as the streaming platform to target audiences who consume both sports content and scripted comedy. The September 30 premiere date positions the series during peak football season, maximizing crossover appeal between existing Omaha Productions fans and mainstream entertainment viewers.
Executive Jamie Horowitz’s sports television background enabled unique negotiations that traditional Hollywood producers could not replicate. His understanding of both sports and entertainment ecosystems allowed for creative deal structures that benefit both companies while preserving Omaha’s brand identity.
Multi-Platform Integration Strategy
The partnership extends beyond individual projects to create integrated content experiences across Disney’s portfolio. Glen Powell’s planned appearances on ManningCast and Eli’s Places demonstrate how scripted and unscripted content can cross-promote through strategic platform integration.
This approach reflects Horowitz’s broader vision for sustainable talent relationships rather than project-specific collaborations. The Disney deal provides infrastructure for multiple simultaneous productions while maintaining quality standards that have earned Omaha Productions Emmy recognition for unscripted programming.
The financial backing also supports extended creative development cycles, enabling more thorough script development and production planning than independent financing typically allows.
Future Development Pipeline
The first-look deal establishes a framework for multiple scripted projects beyond Chad Powers, with Disney providing development funding and creative support for Omaha Productions’ expanding slate. This arrangement enables longer-term creative planning while reducing financial risk typically associated with independent production ventures.
Industry observers closely monitor the partnership as a potential template for how sports media companies can successfully transition into mainstream entertainment. The Disney relationship validates Omaha Productions’ business model while providing case study material for other athlete-driven content companies seeking similar expansion opportunities.
The September 30 Chad Powers premiere will serve as the initial test of this partnership’s commercial viability, with audience reception and critical response influencing future project development within the Disney ecosystem.
Industry Validation and Competitive Positioning
Executive Jamie Horowitz’s Disney partnership positions Omaha Productions among Hollywood’s most strategically connected independent studios, providing competitive advantages that pure sports content companies cannot match. The relationship enables access to Disney’s marketing infrastructure, international distribution network, and cross-promotional opportunities across multiple entertainment properties.
“The partnership allows us to maintain our commitment to authentic storytelling while expanding into new formats,” Horowitz explained when discussing the scripted television expansion. “We’re not abandoning what made us successful—we’re applying those same principles to different genres.”
The deal also establishes precedent for how former athletes can leverage cultural influence into sustained entertainment careers through strategic corporate partnerships. Manning and Horowitz’s collaborative approach demonstrates that authentic sports perspectives can enhance traditional entertainment formats when combined with professional production expertise and institutional backing.
For Disney, the partnership provides access to Omaha’s established sports audience while potentially creating new content categories that blend athletic authenticity with mainstream appeal, expanding the company’s demographic reach beyond traditional entertainment consumers.
