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

How Black Banx Has Sped Digital Payments Into Its Global Phase

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2025

Matthew Wiles

The payments industry has grown substantially in the last decade, with digital transactions now practically a given in most parts of the world. A key contributor to this globalization of payments has been Black Banx, a Toronto-based global digital bank founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer.

Through innovative fintech solutions, a commitment to financial inclusion, and strategic investments in blockchain and artificial intelligence, the company continues to make transactions quicker and easier no matter where the sender or receiver is in the world.

The Cross-Border Payment Boom

Global transactions have never been more essential to the world economy. From businesses engaging in international trade to individuals sending remittances back home, the demand for fast and cost-effective cross-border payments has skyrocketed. In fact, FXCintelligence projects that the cross-border payments market will hit an astonishing US$290 trillion by 2030, driven by the rise of e-commerce and digital trade.

Historically, moving money across borders wasn’t simple. Traditional banking relied on a complex web of intermediaries, leading to slow processing times, high fees, and inefficiencies. But fintech has changed the game. Companies like Black Banx have introduced digital-first solutions that eliminate unnecessary middlemen, enabling instant, affordable transactions.

Black Banx’s Rapid Growth: A Testament to Demand

Black Banx has experienced explosive growth, reflecting the increasing demand for seamless global payments. By the end of 2024, the company’s customer base had expanded to 69 million users across 180+ countries—a staggering 76% growth from 39 million in 2023.

This growth wasn’t accidental. Black Banx’s success stems from its ability to offer frictionless cross-border banking, catering to individuals and businesses worldwide. It’s offerings include:

Instant Multi-Currency Accounts – Customers can open accounts online within minutes, eliminating the need for physical bank visits.
Cryptocurrency Integration – Black Banx has accepted Bitcoin and Ethereum since 2016 and expanded its crypto services in 2024 by integrating Solana and the Lightning Network, allowing for ultra-fast, low-cost cross-border transfers.
Zero-Intermediary Transfers – By leveraging blockchain technology, the company bypasses traditional banking infrastructure, significantly reducing fees and processing times.

AI-Powered Payments: Enhancing Speed and Security

If there’s one technology that has reshaped digital payments in 2024, it’s artificial intelligence. AI is now at the heart of fraud detection, customer service, and transaction optimization, making global payments more secure and efficient.

Black Banx has fully embraced AI, using predictive analytics and automated systems to streamline operations. AI-driven chatbots handle customer inquiries, reducing response times and improving service efficiency. Meanwhile, real-time fraud detection algorithms flag suspicious transactions, preventing financial losses and building customer trust.

The results? Black Banx achieved a cost/income ratio of just 68% in 2024—one of the best in the industry—demonstrating how AI-powered automation can drive profitability while maintaining top-tier service.

Financial Inclusion: Breaking Down Barriers

Despite living in a digital age, over 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked, according to the World Bank. Traditional banks have long failed to serve these individuals due to bureaucratic hurdles, geographic limitations, and high fees. Black Banx has made financial inclusion one of its core missions, particularly in underbanked regions like Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia-Pacific.

In 2024, the company’s impact on financial inclusion was profound:

32% year-over-year increase in SME clients in Africa and the Middle East – Black Banx empowered businesses in these regions with seamless digital banking services, reducing reliance on inefficient traditional banking channels.
Instant digital accounts with minimal documentation – Unlike traditional banks, which require extensive paperwork, Black Banx allows users to open accounts quickly, enabling greater access to financial services.
Affordable cross-border transactions – By eliminating intermediaries, the company ensures that even those in remote regions can send and receive payments without excessive fees.

The Future of Cross-Border Payments: Crypto and Blockchain

Cryptocurrency is no longer a niche asset—it’s gradually become a key cog in the global payments machine. Recognizing this early on, Black Banx became one of the first digital banks to integrate Bitcoin and Ethereum into its platform back in 2016.

In 2024, the company doubled down on its crypto-first strategy, incorporating Solana and the Lightning Network. These technologies allow users to complete cross-border transactions in seconds while avoiding the high fees and delays associated with traditional banking infrastructure.

Black Banx is also exploring crypto-based lending services, a move that could disrupt traditional financial models even further. If successful, decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions could provide businesses and individuals with access to capital without the constraints of conventional banking regulations.

A Year of Record-Breaking Financial Success

While many tech companies faced financial turbulence in 2024, Black Banx defied expectations, posting record-breaking numbers:

Annual revenue: US$11.1 billion (exceeding the forecasted US$10.8 billion)
Pre-tax profit: US$3.6 billion (far surpassing the original US$2.4 billion projection)
Customer base: 69 million users worldwide
Cost/income ratio: 68% – demonstrating operational efficiency
Capital distributions: US$2.90 per share

Black Banx’s financial success highlights the immense demand for efficient digital banking services, proving that fintech is not just a disruptor but the future of global finance.

What’s Next for Black Banx in 2025?

Given its past success, Black Banx is setting ambitious goals to build on its 2024 momentum. The company aims to:

Expand its customer base to 100 million users – By reaching more individuals in emerging markets, Black Banx hopes to further its mission of financial inclusion.
Strengthen its presence in digital asset banking – With growing demand for cryptocurrency-based financial services, the company will continue integrating blockchain solutions.
Enhance global payments infrastructure – By entering new markets and refining its AI-driven systems, Black Banx plans to make transactions even faster and more accessible.
Lower its cost/income ratio – Through further automation and AI optimization, the company aims to improve operational efficiency.

By embracing AI, blockchain, and a relentless commitment to financial inclusion, Black Banx has clearly been key in accelerating the transition of the world to a truly global payments system.