Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions Gets PE Boost

Peyton Manning became an NFL legend finding receivers as one of the league’s greatest quarterbacks. Now, he’s the target of a powerful new investment vehicle focused in part on sports. 

Manning’s Omaha Productions is the first investment of a newly formed company led by former Endeavor executive chairman Patrick Whitesell and backed by private equity giant Silver Lake. That company, first unveiled last year with $250 million in seed equity from Silver Lake, is now fully operational after Endeavor completed a long-planned move to become a private company again earlier this week. 

The Whitesell-led company will be making a minority investment in Omaha Productions, which in less than five years has become an industry force, producing more than 30 television series and live events—perhaps most notably the Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli alternate NFL broadcast on ESPN. Omaha Productions has also been heavily involved in the NFL’s reconstruction of the Pro Bowl into the Pro Bowl Games.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Partnering with Peyton, [cofounder and president] Jamie [Horowitz], and the Omaha team is such a clear choice as the first investment for our new venture, given their impressive track record, the strength of their business, and commitment to applying the same energy to continuing the company’s growth,” Whitesell said. 

The Whitesell investment, meanwhile, also brings together Silver Lake CEO Egon Durban and The Chernin Group chair and CEO Peter Chernin, two of the most powerful executives in the entire media business. Nearly two years ago, Chernin also invested in Omaha Productions through his North Road media venture.