On the Disney upfronts on Tuesday, sports activities met showbiz in essentially the most surprising—and entertaining—approach. 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 tune 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 yr 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 yr, the bit featured movie star 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 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 sequence from FX, a sci-fi occasion drama titled Earth Abides for ABC, and Moana: The Collection, 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 essentially the most related metrics that replicate how audiences are consuming tv as we speak,” mentioned Craig Erwich, President of Disney Tv Group. “We’re assembly viewers the place they’re, and this achievement actually highlights our strategic strategy 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 consumers and sports activities followers within the viewers. Later within the present, Martin Quick took the stage along with his Solely Murders within the Constructing co-stars Steve Martin and Selena Gomez and quipped to the gang, “There are not any tariffs on standing ovations.”
However one of many greatest 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 sequence brings the character to life in a brand new narrative. Glen Powell stars as Russ Holliday, a hotshot school quarterback whose NFL desires are derailed by dangerous habits. Looking for redemption, he adopts the persona of Chad Powers—a captivating, mustachioed walk-on—and joins a struggling Southern soccer group in hopes of reviving his profession.
Powell, who co-created the sequence with Loki author Michael Waldron, additionally serves as co-writer and government 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 encompasses a supporting solid that features Steve Zahn as head coach Jake Hudson, Perry Mattfeld because the skeptical assistant Ricky, and Frankie A. Rodriguez as group mascot Danny. Chad Powers is ready to premiere on Hulu on September 30, 2025, with the primary two episodes accessible 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 Night time Soccer with Peyton and Eli, generally known as the ManningCast, has redefined sports activities broadcasting by mixing real-time sport evaluation with candid conversations and movie star interviews. This contemporary strategy has garnered essential acclaim, incomes the ManningCast the Sports activities Emmy for Excellent Reside Collection in every of its first three seasons.
Omaha’s success led to a serious vote of confidence final yr, 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 sequence 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 government 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 mentioned we wished to deal with working with one of the best individuals,” Horowitz not too long ago mentioned. “We borrowed a line [former ESPN president] George Bodenheimer used to say—‘Individuals are our most essential asset.’”
Earlier this yr, Omaha made its greatest transfer but into scripted leisure, signing a first-look cope with Disney-owned twentieth Tv. The settlement permits Omaha to develop scripted sequence for Disney’s networks and streaming platforms, a pure evolution for a corporation that has already mastered unscripted codecs and branded documentaries. Earlier Omaha docuseries equivalent to Quarterback, Receiver, and Full Courtroom Press—the final of which adopted Caitlin Clark’s historic collegiate season—have confirmed the corporate’s skill to inform compelling athlete-centered tales throughout genres.
“Jamie and Peyton deliver totally different strengths,” one business government mentioned. “Peyton’s fame and unimaginable recognition opens doorways; Jamie is aware of the way to construct groups, create technique, and scale.”
That skill to scale is what not too long ago drew the eye of Silver Lake Companions, one of many world’s premier expertise funding companies. In early 2025, Omaha secured a strategic funding from Silver Lake, a transfer that underscores simply how critically Wall Avenue and Hollywood now take the enterprise.
The deal was spearheaded by Patrick Whitesell, a longtime media energy dealer and former government chairman of Endeavor. By 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 mentioned. “Partnering with Peyton, Jamie and the Omaha group is such a transparent selection because the first funding for our new enterprise, given their spectacular observe document, the power of the enterprise, and dedication to making use of the identical power 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 group at Omaha have constructed a dynamic enterprise,” Durban mentioned. “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 an important piece of Omaha’s subsequent section. With many years 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 notably of Horowitz—alerts confidence within the firm’s long-term artistic and industrial viability.
The funding will assist Omaha scale its ambitions throughout scripted and unscripted content material, stay occasion protection, and authentic codecs. And with Disney as a main accomplice, the street forward seems extensive 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 concept. It’s a franchise of its personal.
