Business

Is Peyton Manning’s Sports Media Company Omaha Productions The Next Billion Dollar Company?

Published

1 year ago

October 19, 2023

In September 2020, sports media executives Jamie Horowitz and Josh Pyatt boarded a plane from Los Angeles to Denver with a very specific goal. They wanted to ask former NFL quarterback and Hall of Famer Peyton Manning to launch his own media production company.

Jamie Horowitz, former VP at ESPN and president at Fox Sports, is responsible for developing some of the most popular sports programs today, including Undisputed, First Take, and SportsNation. He had played an instrumental role in the rise of sports media personalities Colin Cowherd, Stephen A Smith, and Shannon Sharpe. Pyatt had been the agent that helped LeBron James and Kobe Bryant build their massive media companies.

Horowitz believed that Manning had a point of view on the world that sounded like a company’s mission statement – Manning wanted to uplift and unify people (that did end up the mission statement and is on the website).

Horowitz and Pyatt were some of the more successful players in sports media, yet Manning wasn’t convinced at first. He had dedicated his life to being the best football player he could be. He didn’t know anything about running a production company.

“From what everyone had told me, he wasn’t interested,” said Pyatt.

But “everyone” didn’t deter Pyatt and Horowitz.

Manning did his research and eventually decided to try his hand at leading a media company. And to the surprise of basically no one, in a matter of months, the new company, named Omaha Productions after Manning’s famed audible call, had become one of the world’s fastest-growing media properties.

In its first 3 years, the programming developed by Omaha Productions has represented a departure from traditional sports media. Instead of men in suits discussing stats in fancy studios, Omaha makes more casual television. Shows like ManningCast feature Peyton and Eli mostly in quarterzips and they broadcast from a garage and a basement. Omaha’s most successful show on Netflix – Quarterback – documents NFL star players on the gridiron but also playing with their kids and taking out the trash. Omaha Productions content seems to work particularly well for a new generation – the average viewer of ManningCast is six years younger than the average Monday Night Football viewer (Netflix wouldnt disclose the demographics on Quarterback).

The unscripted and unfiltered style of Omaha programming seems to have been inspired by shows that Jamie Horowitz has been developing on NBC, ESPN, FOX, and DAZN for over 20 years. Horowitz is credited with reimagining sports TV in the 2000s by producing shows that feature big personalities and spirited talk — a style of programming that’s become the norm on TV today. Horowitz has guided Omaha to make shows where the on-camera talent is the key to the show and often the executive producer.

Earlier this year, Horowitz and Manning added a 3rd partner to Omaha when Peter Chernin’s North Road company invested in Omaha. Chernin has had a magic touch with a variety of media companies and connected quickly with Manning and Horowitz. The partnership was intended to supercharge the growth of Omaha and drive more scripted content deals.

In his recent newsletter Huddle Up, sports business expert Joe Pompliano recognized how Omaha Productions was shifting viewer trends and predicted that it could soon become a dominant player in sports media.

“I don’t see any reason why Omaha can’t be a $1 billion-plus company,” Pompliano wrote. “Streaming services are acquiring unscripted sports content at a premium and Omaha’s close relationship with ESPN provides them with a unique advantage.”

The combination of Manning and Horowitz, guided by the leadership of Pyatt, and the partnership of Peter Chernin makes us believe that Omaha Productions’ meteoric rise is only the beginning for the brand — and that a $1 billion valuation may be around the corner.

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

2 weeks ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.