Omaha Productions announced today that they have sold a minority stake to an investment group led by Patrick Whitesell, the former executive chairman of Endeavor. Whitesell made the investment through his new Silver Lake-backed firm and, as a result, joins Peter Chernin’s North Road as a backer of former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning’s media company.
According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, the closing of Endeavor’s take-private deal ultimately led Whitesell and Silver Lake to launch a new investment vehicle that aims to invest in sports and entertainment.
Meanwhile, financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
Whitesell told The Hollywood Reporter that, due to his ownership stake in Endeavor, the lone restriction he must follow is that if he invests in a production company, he will not own more than 20 percent of the company he’s investing in. Furthermore, he went on to tell the publication that, aside from that lone restriction, there are no additional limitations.
“Omaha’s strong track record of creating engaging content puts them in a strong position to capitalize on new opportunities across entertainment and sports,” said Whitesell in a statement. “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.”
In addition, Manning’s Omaha Productions agreed to a nine-year deal with ESPN last year, bringing the Manningcast and other programs—including Peyton’s Places—to the network. Beyond this agreement with ESPN, the production company has successfully sold over 30 shows and documentary films to a range of networks and streaming platforms.
“All of us at Omaha are excited to get to work with Patrick and Egon [Durban] as our new teammates to grow the business and create new opportunities for fans,” said Manning in a statement. “Peter Chernin and his team have been great partners over the past two years and have helped us build a strong foundation. I’m very excited for all of us to work together to continue to build Omaha.”
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