Jamie Horowitz is a unique sports media executive who successfully reimagined the sports talk show industry with his innovative programming. Horowitz developed a keen interest in sports at a young age and was an exceptional student and writer. He worked at Sports Illustrated in while still a student at Amherst College and subsequently set his sights on a career in sports content production. Horowitz has worked in top executive positions at some of the largest media companies in the US, including DAZN, Fox Sports, ESPN, NBC, and currently WWE.
The Accent of an Innovator
In 2004, Horowitz kickstarted his career at NBC, where he made a name for himself as the creator and producer of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. He also contributed to the coverage of several popular sporting events such as the NBA, NASCAR, and the Olympics. After working at NBC, Horowitz decided to shift his focus to TV development and took his talents to ESPN, where he embarked on a major restructuring initiative. During his tenure at ESPN, Horowitz successfully worked with top-tier talent such as Skip Bayless, Stephen A Smith, Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd. He created popular shows such as “First Take” and “SportsNation” that remain highly successful to this day.
Horowitz was then hired as President of Fox Sports, where he led the launch of several popular shows such as “Undisputed,” featuring Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. He was also successfully recruited Colin Cowherd to leave ESPN and join him at Fox Sports. Horowitz’s strategy for success was centered on making big bets on live events, pre- and post-game programming, and opinion-based programming. His “people-first” philosophy coupled with his innovative content strategy has been key to his ongoing success.
DAZN and The Future of Sport Streaming
Horowitz’s forward-thinking mindset led him to his most recent role as the Executive Vice President of Content for North America at DAZN. In this capacity, he was responsible for driving the platform’s content strategy, including original programming, live events, and news coverage. He created and directed “One Night,” a documentary film that chronicled one of boxing’s biggest upsets in history – Andy Ruiz stunning Anthony Joshua. He has also played a pivotal role in bringing “The Pat McAfee Show” to DAZN, one of the most beloved shows on the internet, with over 2 million subscribers on YouTube alone.
Horowitz was also the driving force behind the creation of “40 Days,” a docuseries produced in collaboration with Lebron James and Maverick Carter’s “Uninterrupted.” This series provided an insider’s look at the legendary Canelo Alvarez vs. Daniel Jacobs middleweight unification fight. A tweet from Lebron about Canelo reached over 110 million people and brought 100s of thousands of viewers to the DAZN platform, making it one of Horowitz’s most clever collaborations.
The Iconic World Wrestling Entertainment
Most recently, Horowitz has taken on the role of Executive Vice President of Development and Digital at the iconic World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). His extensive experience and track record of success make him the ideal candidate to lead WWE’s efforts in merging its entire digital team. In addition to this, he is working on selling original content to Netflix, Roku, Hulu and Peacock. The WWE Network has also been rolled into NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service, which is expected to feature content created by Horowitz’s new team in the future.
In conclusion, Jamie Horowitz is a visionary leader in the media industry with a passion for sports and an unparalleled ability to create compelling content. His latest role at WWE is a testament to his ongoing success and his commitment to elevating sports content and delivering innovative programming.
