Jamie Horowitz Takes the Helm as Executive Vice President of WWE

Jamie Horowitz is no stranger to sports entertainment. The media veteran has served in executive positions at ESPN, Fox Sports, and DAZN. In those roles, he was responsible for developing some of the most iconic sports entertainment programs of all time, including First Take, Undisputed, SportsNation, and Numbers Never Lie.

In 2021, he was named executive vice president of development and digital at WWE. His years of experience as a leader in entertainment planning and design helped him bring new creative perspectives to his position at the wrestling giant. During his time at WWE, he contributed to the brand’s unprecedented digital growth in the US and abroad.

Today, Jamie Horowitz is Co-Founder of Omaha Productions, a sports media production company he founded with NFL legend Peyton Manning. Together Manning and Horowitz continue to develop groundbreaking sports programs across digital and traditional channels.

How Jamie Horowitz Got Started in Sports Entertainment

A graduate of Amherst College, Jamie Horowitz’s love of sports dates back to his time as a student. He founded his alma mater’s sports magazine, SportsAmherst, and was an athlete himself (he played point guard for the Amherst basketball team).

With an aptitude for communications and media, he found himself in a number of roles as a writer, researcher, and producer for major networks. Early in his career, Horowitz made a name for himself as a researcher and writer for NBC Sports and then at ESPN where he quickly climbed the ladder thanks to his success as a producer. By the time he left, he was vice president of original programming and production.

His career growth continued as he became President of national networks at Fox Sports, where he solidified his reputation as one of the most influential sports media personalities with shows like Undisputed and The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

More recently, his tenure with DAZN as EVP of content challenged him in novel ways. DAZN was an all-digital platform fighting for fans’ attention. Jamie Horowitz brought in big names like LeBron James and Sylvester Stallone to produce new content while creating award-winning grassroots programs like The Pat McAfee Show. Thanks in part to Horowitz’s leadership, DAZN soon became the highest-grossing sports app.

Horowitz Adds Flair and New Direction at WWE

With WWE, Jamie Horowitz delivered the same high caliber of leadership when developing content for networks and digital platforms. In his newly created role of executive vice president of development and digital, he oversaw the company’s scripted and unscripted programming based primarily out of WWE Studios in Los Angeles. The leadership changes were paired with updates to the company’s board of directors including the addition of Steve Koonin, Connor Schell, and Nick Khan, all of whom had broad experience in media and entertainment.

Jamie Horowitz brought a fresh creative perspective to WWE and achieved notable results for the company despite his short tenure as an executive. Engagement on social media and digital platforms skyrocketed, especially on YouTube, where WWE is among the top-viewed channels in the world.  Horowitz also helped the company expand its international audience. Global streaming numbers for major events like WrestleMania and Royal Rumble climbed around the world.

Leadership Changes Reflect WWE’s Commitment to Evolving and Engaging with Audiences

Signing Jamie Horowitz was part of WWE’s strategy to modernize its content and media presence. The brand signed a licensing deal with Peacock to stream its on-demand content, making it easier for fans to access major wrestling events from their Smart TVs or phones. As head of digital content, Horowitz was crucial in making the Peacock partnership a success. Premium live viewership increased by 43% under his watch, and he contributed to the development of new programs and films for digital services. Horowitz continued to build on the digital skillset he honed at DAZN, helping WWE turn its fortune around. When he started at WWE in 2021, viewership was lagging. When he left in 2023, WWE was enjoying record-setting growth and income.

WWE’s refreshed senior leadership team was just one indicator of the brand’s dedication to its fan base. Adding Jamie Horowitz to the mix helped the company evolve by engaging with new demographics on a range of new channels around the globe. His hiring was just one sign that the WWE remains committed to consolidating operations and upgrading its digital offerings for the better.

Jamie Horowitz Continues to Innovate as President at Omaha Productions

Before Jamie Horowitz started working for WWE, he had quietly founded a production company with Peyton Manning called Omaha Productions in 2020. Over the next few years, he served as a consultant for Omaha before taking the role of President in 2024.

In his new leadership position at Omaha, Horowitz has adeptly leveraged his expertise in network TV and digital channels, running a blitz on the sports media industry.

In a few short years, Omaha has gone from a fledgling brand to a major production company valued at nearly half a billion dollars. Its programs, including the Emmy-winning ManningCast, Netflix’s Quarterback, and ESPN2’s Peyton’s Places, appear on diverse media outlets including Netflix, Prime, ESPN, ABC, The History Channel, and others.

And Jamie Horowitz is only just getting started. Omaha Productions has recently announced several new projects. Receiver, a companion series to the docuseries Quarterback, will follow five NFL wide receivers and tight ends during the 2023 NFL season. It will stream on Netflix in 2024. A similar fly-on-the-wall series, Full Court Press, will document NCAA superstar Caitlin Clark and two other players as they navigate college women’s basketball, covering everything from college life to March Madness. Full Court Press will air on ABC later this year. Omaha Productions has also announced collaborations with LeBron James and Kenny Beecham on a slate of new NBA content.

Once again, Jamie Horowitz is taking the lead in modern sports entertainment—and changing the game for the better. With his unique brand of wholesome storytelling and big personalities, Horowitz is engaging younger audiences and turning casual viewers around the globe into new sports fans.