On the Disney upfronts on Tuesday, sports activities met showbiz in probably the most surprising—and entertaining—method. Peyton and Eli Manning, recognized for each their soccer IQ and their comedic timing, headlined the annual presentation to advertisers with a Broadway-style twist. In entrance of a packed crowd at New York’s Javits Middle, the brothers broke into track as they celebrated Disney content material.
The efficiency was a homage to their roles in ManningCast: The Musical, a viral video produced by Omaha Productions final 12 months that imagined their low season lives as aspiring stage stars. The annual schedule launch video is one thing that the Omaha co-founders—Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning—clearly prioritize. Final 12 months, the bit featured celeb cameos from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and showcased the Mannings’ aptitude for self-parody. Their stay model on Tuesday underscored how far their manufacturing firm—Omaha Productions—has are available in reshaping the boundaries between sports activities and leisure.
Whereas the Mannings delivered the comedic and musical centerpiece of the present, Disney used its two-hour presentation to preview a slate of high-profile programming. Main bulletins included a brand new Alien collection from FX, a sci-fi occasion drama titled Earth Abides for ABC, and Moana: The Sequence, an animated continuation of the hit movie, heading to Disney+. ABC additionally unveiled its fall schedule, that includes the brand new drama 9-1-1: Nashville on Thursdays and Celeb Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, shifting to Fridays—whereas Shark Tank strikes to Wednesdays following The Golden Bachelor. In the meantime, returning favorites like American Idol, The Rookie, Will Trent, and Celeb Jeopardy! have been confirmed to return in 2026.
“ABC dominated this season in multiplatform rankings, that are probably the most related metrics that replicate how audiences are consuming tv at present,” stated Craig Erwich, President of Disney Tv Group. “We’re assembly viewers the place they’re, and this achievement actually highlights our strategic method and dedication to artistic excellence.”
NFL superstars Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley have been additionally available to introduce Disney CEO Bob Iger to the stage, drawing cheers from each media patrons and sports activities followers within the viewers. Later within the present, Martin Brief took the stage along with his Solely Murders within the Constructing co-stars Steve Martin and Selena Gomez and quipped to the group, “There aren’t any tariffs on standing ovations.”
However one of many largest surprises of the morning was the official unveiling of Chad Powers, a scripted comedy premiering this September on Hulu. Impressed by Eli Manning’s 2022 viral sketch for ESPN+’s Eli’s Locations, the place he disguised himself as a walk-on quarterback at Penn State, the collection brings the character to life in a brand new narrative. Glen Powell stars as Russ Holliday, a hotshot faculty quarterback whose NFL desires are derailed by dangerous conduct. Looking for redemption, he adopts the persona of Chad Powers—an enthralling, mustachioed walk-on—and joins a struggling Southern soccer staff in hopes of reviving his profession.
Powell, who co-created the collection with Loki author Michael Waldron, additionally serves as co-writer and govt producer by means of his Barnstorm Productions banner. Govt producers additionally embody Peyton and Eli Manning, Omaha Productions president Jamie Horowitz, and Ben Brown, who heads up Omaha’s scripted division. The present is directed by Tony Yacenda (American Vandal) and includes a supporting forged that features Steve Zahn as head coach Jake Hudson, Perry Mattfeld because the skeptical assistant Ricky, and Frankie A. Rodriguez as staff mascot Danny. Chad Powers is about to premiere on Hulu on September 30, 2025, with the primary two episodes out there instantly, adopted by weekly releases on Tuesdays.
Omaha Productions has quickly advanced right into a media powerhouse since its inception in 2020. The corporate’s flagship program, Monday Evening Soccer with Peyton and Eli, generally known as the ManningCast, has redefined sports activities broadcasting by mixing real-time recreation evaluation with candid conversations and celeb interviews. This recent method has garnered vital acclaim, incomes the ManningCast the Sports activities Emmy for Excellent Stay Sequence in every of its first three seasons.
Omaha’s success led to a significant vote of confidence final 12 months, when The Walt Disney Firm prolonged its settlement with the manufacturing firm by means of 2034. The long-term renewal covers stay sports activities content material, shoulder programming, and digital collection together with Peyton’s Locations, Eli’s Locations, and extra.
Jamie Horowitz, who co-founded the corporate alongside Manning, is one in all sports activities tv’s most influential figures. A former govt at ESPN, Fox Sports activities, and WWE, Horowitz is credited with pioneering talk-style programming and mixing personality-driven content material with storytelling.
“After we began Omaha, we stated we needed to give attention to working with the most effective individuals,” Horowitz just lately stated. “We borrowed a line [former ESPN president] George Bodenheimer used to say—‘Persons are our most essential asset.’”
Earlier this 12 months, Omaha made its largest transfer but into scripted leisure, signing a first-look take care of Disney-owned twentieth Tv. The settlement permits Omaha to develop scripted collection for Disney’s networks and streaming platforms, a pure evolution for an organization that has already mastered unscripted codecs and branded documentaries. Earlier Omaha docuseries resembling Quarterback, Receiver, and Full Court docket Press—the final of which adopted Caitlin Clark’s historic collegiate season—have confirmed the corporate’s capability to inform compelling athlete-centered tales throughout genres.
“Jamie and Peyton carry completely different strengths,” one business govt stated. “Peyton’s fame and unimaginable recognition opens doorways; Jamie is aware of easy methods to construct groups, create technique, and scale.”
That capability to scale is what just lately drew the eye of Silver Lake Companions, one of many world’s premier expertise funding corporations. In early 2025, Omaha secured a strategic funding from Silver Lake, a transfer that underscores simply how severely Wall Road and Hollywood now take the enterprise.
The deal was spearheaded by Patrick Whitesell, a longtime media energy dealer and former govt chairman of Endeavor. By way of his new Silver Lake–backed platform, Whitesell has taken a minority stake in Omaha Productions.
“Omaha’s sturdy observe document of making participating content material places them in a robust place to capitalize on new alternatives throughout leisure and sports activities,” Whitesell stated. “Partnering with Peyton, Jamie and the Omaha staff is such a transparent selection because the first funding for our new enterprise, given their spectacular observe document, the energy of the enterprise, and dedication to making use of the identical vitality to persevering with the corporate’s progress.”
That perception in Omaha’s management was echoed by Egon Durban, co-CEO of Silver Lake. “In simply 4 years, Peyton, Jamie, and the hardworking, bold staff at Omaha have constructed a dynamic enterprise,” Durban stated. “They’ve the authenticity, drive, and inventive instincts to push into new frontiers in a quickly evolving media business.”
Whitesell’s involvement is seen as a vital piece of Omaha’s subsequent part. With a long time of expertise brokering high-profile offers throughout movie, tv, and sports activities, he brings deep relationships and monetary firepower. Insiders observe that his endorsement of Omaha’s management—and significantly of Horowitz—indicators confidence within the firm’s long-term artistic and business viability.
The funding will assist Omaha scale its ambitions throughout scripted and unscripted content material, stay occasion protection, and unique codecs. And with Disney as a main companion, the highway forward seems large open.
On the Disney upfronts, amid alien invasions and rom-com teasers, it was nonetheless the Mannings—singing, joking, and pitching their very own universe—who stole the present. And with the rise of Chad Powers, a nine-year Disney dedication, and the backing of Silver Lake, it’s clear Omaha Productions is greater than a intelligent thought. It’s a franchise of its personal.
