Writer’s Strike End a Boon for Sports Networks, Agencies
ESPN won an Emmy Award for its alternate “ManningCast” for “Monday Night Football.” Now ESPN is expanding its financial and creative partnership with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. Their strategy: launch half a dozen original podcasts starting June 20.
Omaha’s new audio unit will produce the six titles. Hosts will include personalities ranging from ESPN’s own Vince Carter, Ros Gold-Onwude, and Greg McElroy to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward, host and influencer Rachel DeMita and older brother Cooper Manning.
“One of the best parts of the Monday Night Football show is getting to talk about a sport I love with other folks who share the same passion for the game,” Peyton Manning said in a statement to Front Office Sports.
“With this audio network, we want to deliver those same entertaining and informative conversations from a great crew of folks at Omaha Audio, who are not only informed but genuinely love the sports and topics they cover.”
Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN and sports content, added the new titles will “allow us to offer an even more in-depth” experience across the sports giant’s podcast library.
All episodes will be available in the ESPN podcast library, which now includes more than 35 shows.
“We are thrilled to extend this already successful partnership into the audio space with the launch of these first six titles led by so many engaging personalities, with much more to follow,” stated Pitaro.
The new Omaha audio division is the fruit of a wide-ranging content partnership between Omaha and Caesars Sportsbook. All of the new podcasts will be title-sponsored by Caesars. The partners are also working on video content starring ex-ESPN host Kenny Mayne.
Here are the details on the six new pods:
- The VC Show (June 20): Each week, Carter will talk NBA news with co-host Gold-Onwude. The eight-time NBA All-Star will also share personal stories from his 22-year NBA career.
- Courtside Club (June 20): Host and influencer Rachel DeMita will hold “courtside” talks with athletes and influencers.
- Moxie Bets (June 20): Sports gambling pro Katie Mox will preview betting lines, spreads, parlays, and prop bets.
- Always College Football (July 5): Former Alabama quarterback turned analyst McElroy will go deep on college football news.
- The Cam Heyward Show (July 11): The Steelers defensive tackle will give fans an inside look at the real life of NFL players.
- Soup with Coop (July 18): The elder Manning brother will invite players and coaches to share stories, and laughs, over a bowl of soup.
Peyton Manning’s two-year old Omaha Productions has become the hottest production company in Hollywood.
Omaha is producing everything from the “ManningCast” to the NFL Honors Awards and planned documentaries.
Post-retirement from the NFL, the Manning brothers have built a lucrative relationship with ESPN.
Their projects include “ManningCast” as well the “Places” streaming series starring the brothers, Carter, David Ortiz, Ronda Rousey and Abby Wambach.
The ManningCast is so critically acclaimed that tech giant Amazon is interested in taking it away from ESPN, sources tell FOS. To guard against an Amazon raid, Pitaro extended Omaha’s ManningCast deal through 2024.
