Meet Jamie Horowitz, the Mind Behind Your Favorite Sports Programs

By Staff Report
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Updated: July 12, 2023

Digital Solutions

You may not know the name Jamie Horowitz, but if you’re a sports fan, you’ve likely seen his work. He’s the mind behind some of the most popular sports programming of the past 20 years, including ESPN’s SportsNation, FS1’s The Herd, and HBO’s State of Play.

A veteran in the sports entertainment industry, Horowitz has had a major influence on the direction and tone of sports content industrywide since the early 2000s. He’s also been an integral part of the industry’s move into digital entertainment.

Horowitz has held executive positions at significant sports companies, including president of FS1 at Fox Sports, executive vice president of original programming and production at ESPN, and EVP of content at sports app DAZN. He was recently tapped to become the EVP of development and digital at professional wrestling promotion company WWE.

“As EVP, development and digital, Horowitz brings to WWE two decades of experience in the sports media industry,” the WWE said in a statement. “In this new role, he will oversee much of WWE’s original content, including scripted and unscripted programs for digital and social media. Horowitz will also be responsible for WWE Studios in Los Angeles.”

At WWE, Horowitz is responsible for expanding the brand’s reach to TV and pay-per-view audiences worldwide while modernizing its digital platform via social media, web exclusives, and more. Under his leadership, wrestling fans have been treated to a new slate of thrilling entertainment across channels and platforms, and more is sure to come.

Jamie Horowitz’s Early Career

Jamie Horowitz has had a long and impressive career in sports broadcasting. He began as an associate producer at NBC, where he contributed to coverage of the NBA, NASCAR, and the Olympics.

His work quickly set him apart from his peers, and he was soon tapped by ESPN to be a senior producer. Within just a few years of joining the sports juggernaut, Horowitz had ascended to the position of VP of original programming and development. At ESPN, he produced some of the brand’s most iconic programs, such as First Take, Numbers Never Lie, and SportsNation.

A Rising Star

After nearly a decade at ESPN, Jamie Horowitz left the network to become president of Fox Sports National Networks. In his new position, he helped shape the development of fledgling networks FS1 and FS2.

When Horowitz took over, FS1 was geared toward news and highlights. Horowitz took the channel in a different direction, focusing instead on debate, interviews, and analysis.

He recruited top talent including Colin Cowherd, Jason Whitlock, and Doug Gottlieb, and he produced hit sports programs like The Herd With Colin Cowherd and Undisputed. As a result, FS1’s viewership jumped by 28%, challenging the dominance of ESPN.

Soon after, Horowitz joined the sports streaming service DAZN as EVP of content, where he oversaw original programming, social content, and editorial strategy. By the time he left DAZN, it had become the highest-grossing sports app, achieving 70% year-over-year growth.

Horowitz took a risk by leaving a comfortable executive position at ESPN. But within just a few years, he proved himself to be a leader in the sports entertainment industry.

Jamie Horowitz Arrives at WWE

Horowitz’s success at DAZN and his reputation as a visionary in sports content development attracted the attention of the WWE. A perfect fit for their ambitious content and distribution aims, the wrestling brand appointed Horowitz as its EVP of development and digital in 2021.

In this position, Horowitz oversees the production of a large part of the wrestling juggernaut’s original digital content, including scripted and unscripted programs. He’s responsible for formulating WWE’s social media strategy and overseeing the distribution of all off-platform content.

Making an Impact on the WWE Universe

Although Jamie Horowitz has only been with WWE for a short time, his presence has already made an important impact. He hit the ground running, working with WWE Studios to produce popular documentaries such as Never Forget: WWE Returns After 9/11.

Horowitz helped the WWE expand its web presence globally and dominate social media. U.S. News recently described the WWE as the “king of the ring of social media,” as the brand’s social channels and engagement have skyrocketed. WWE has 20 million followers on TikTok, and its YouTube channel is among just 10 on the entire platform with more than 90 million subscribers For context, the NBA and NFL have about 30 million subscribers — combined.

The WWE’s revenues have increased by 18% since Horowitz joined its executive ranks — an indication of just how adept the new EVP is at building an effective business model around engaging content.

What’s Next For Jamie Horowitz?

What’s next for the sports broadcasting guru? Jamie Horowitz will continue to produce award-winning content with WWE studios and expand WWE’s viewership to a global audience via its thriving digital channels.

Though barely 40 years old, Horowitz has had one of the most varied and successful careers in the sports broadcasting industry. He’s blazed a trail working for TV mainstays like NBC, Fox, and ESPN as well as digital-only services like DAZN, demonstrating his unique ability to drive viewership and engagement on multiple channels.

Horowitz’s ingenuity is in the DNA of dozens of popular sports productions across media. From ESPN’s First Taketo FS1’s The Herd to DAZN’s 40 Days (which had him partnering with Mark Wahlberg and LeBron James), Horowitz has an unrivaled understanding of what sports fans want—and how to deliver.