At the Disney upfronts on Tuesday, sports met showbiz in the most unexpected—and entertaining—way. Peyton and Eli Manning, known for both their football IQ and their comedic timing, headlined the annual presentation to advertisers with a Broadway-style twist. In front of a packed crowd at New York’s Javits Center, the brothers broke into song as they celebrated Disney content.
The performance was a homage to their roles in ManningCast: The Musical, a viral video produced by Omaha Productions last year that imagined their off-season lives as aspiring stage stars. The annual schedule release video is something that the Omaha co-founders—Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning—clearly prioritize. Last year, the bit featured celebrity cameos from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and showcased the Mannings’ flair for self-parody. Their live version on Tuesday underscored how far their production company—Omaha Productions—has come in reshaping the boundaries between sports and entertainment.
While the Mannings delivered the comedic and musical centerpiece of the show, Disney used its two-hour presentation to preview a slate of high-profile programming. Major announcements included a new Alien series from FX, a sci-fi event drama titled Earth Abides for ABC, and Moana: The Series, an animated continuation of the hit film, heading to Disney+. ABC also unveiled its fall schedule, featuring the new drama 9-1-1: Nashville on Thursdays and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, shifting to Fridays—while Shark Tank moves to Wednesdays following The Golden Bachelor. Meanwhile, returning favorites like American Idol, The Rookie, Will Trent, and Celebrity Jeopardy! were confirmed to return in 2026.
“ABC dominated this season in multiplatform ratings, which are the most relevant metrics that reflect how audiences are consuming television today,” said Craig Erwich, President of Disney Television Group. “We are meeting viewers where they are, and this achievement really highlights our strategic approach and commitment to creative excellence.”
NFL superstars Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley were also on hand to introduce Disney CEO Bob Iger to the stage, drawing cheers from both media buyers and sports fans in the audience. Later in the show, Martin Short took the stage with his Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Selena Gomez and quipped to the crowd, “There are no tariffs on standing ovations.”
But one of the biggest surprises of the morning was the official unveiling of Chad Powers, a scripted comedy premiering this September on Hulu. Inspired by Eli Manning’s 2022 viral sketch for ESPN+’s Eli’s Places, where he disguised himself as a walk-on quarterback at Penn State, the series brings the character to life in a new narrative. Glen Powell stars as Russ Holliday, a hotshot college quarterback whose NFL dreams are derailed by bad behavior. Seeking redemption, he adopts the persona of Chad Powers—a charming, mustachioed walk-on—and joins a struggling Southern football team in hopes of reviving his career.
Powell, who co-created the series with Loki writer Michael Waldron, also serves as co-writer and executive producer through his Barnstorm Productions banner. Executive producers also include Peyton and Eli Manning, Omaha Productions president Jamie Horowitz, and Ben Brown, who heads up Omaha’s scripted division. The show is directed by Tony Yacenda (American Vandal) and features a supporting cast that includes Steve Zahn as head coach Jake Hudson, Perry Mattfeld as the skeptical assistant Ricky, and Frankie A. Rodriguez as team mascot Danny. Chad Powers is set to premiere on Hulu on September 30, 2025, with the first two episodes available immediately, followed by weekly releases on Tuesdays.
Omaha Productions has rapidly evolved into a media powerhouse since its inception in 2020. The company’s flagship program, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, commonly referred to as the ManningCast, has redefined sports broadcasting by blending real-time game analysis with candid conversations and celebrity interviews. This fresh approach has garnered critical acclaim, earning the ManningCast the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Series in each of its first three seasons.
Omaha’s success led to a major vote of confidence last year, when The Walt Disney Company extended its agreement with the production company through 2034. The long-term renewal covers live sports content, shoulder programming, and digital series including Peyton’s Places, Eli’s Places, and more.
Jamie Horowitz, who co-founded the company alongside Manning, is one of sports television’s most influential figures. A former executive at ESPN, Fox Sports, and WWE, Horowitz is credited with pioneering talk-style programming and blending personality-driven content with storytelling.
“When we started Omaha, we said we wanted to focus on working with the best people,” Horowitz recently said. “We borrowed a line [former ESPN president] George Bodenheimer used to say—‘People are our most important asset.’”
Earlier this year, Omaha made its biggest move yet into scripted entertainment, signing a first-look deal with Disney-owned 20th Television. The agreement allows Omaha to develop scripted series for Disney’s networks and streaming platforms, a natural evolution for a company that has already mastered unscripted formats and branded documentaries. Previous Omaha docuseries such as Quarterback, Receiver, and Full Court Press—the last of which followed Caitlin Clark’s historic collegiate season—have proven the company’s ability to tell compelling athlete-centered stories across genres.
“Jamie and Peyton bring different strengths,” one industry executive said. “Peyton’s fame and incredible popularity opens doors; Jamie knows how to build teams, create strategy, and scale.”
That ability to scale is what recently drew the attention of Silver Lake Partners, one of the world’s premier technology investment firms. In early 2025, Omaha secured a strategic investment from Silver Lake, a move that underscores just how seriously Wall Street and Hollywood now take the venture.
The deal was spearheaded by Patrick Whitesell, a longtime media power broker and former executive chairman of Endeavor. Through his new Silver Lake–backed platform, Whitesell has taken a minority stake in Omaha Productions.
“Omaha’s strong track record of creating engaging content puts them in a strong position to capitalize on new opportunities across entertainment and sports,” Whitesell said. “Partnering with Peyton, Jamie 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 the business, and commitment to applying the same energy to continuing the company’s growth.”
That belief in Omaha’s leadership was echoed by Egon Durban, co-CEO of Silver Lake. “In just four years, Peyton, Jamie, and the hardworking, ambitious team at Omaha have built a dynamic business,” Durban said. “They have the authenticity, drive, and creative instincts to push into new frontiers in a rapidly evolving media industry.”
Whitesell’s involvement is seen as a crucial piece of Omaha’s next phase. With decades of experience brokering high-profile deals across film, television, and sports, he brings deep relationships and financial firepower. Insiders note that his endorsement of Omaha’s leadership—and particularly of Horowitz—signals confidence in the company’s long-term creative and commercial viability.
The investment will help Omaha scale its ambitions across scripted and unscripted content, live event coverage, and original formats. And with Disney as a primary partner, the road ahead appears wide open.
At the Disney upfronts, amid alien invasions and rom-com teasers, it was still the Mannings—singing, joking, and pitching their own universe—who stole the show. And with the rise of Chad Powers, a nine-year Disney commitment, and the backing of Silver Lake, it’s clear Omaha Productions is more than a clever idea. It’s a franchise of its own.