Introduction
Jamie Horowitz is a name synonymous with the sports media industry in the United States. His love for sports and innovation has seen him make significant contributions to the industry. In this article, we will explore his background, career trajectory, and current position.
Early Life and Education
Horowitz graduated from Newton South High School in 1990 and later enrolled at Amherst College, where he pursued a degree in Political Science and Government. During his college years, he created SportsAmherst, a magazine that covered sports activities on campus. His passion for writing also led him to become an OP-Ed writer.
Contributions at NBC Sports
Horowitz began his career at NBC Sports as an Olympic Researcher in August 1998. During his time there, he was also a creative writer for the NBC Sports Olympic show. He climbed the corporate ladder and was eventually promoted to Associate Producer in 2000. In this position, he produced shows such as the National Heads-Up Poker Championship and improved NBC Sports coverage of the Olympics, NBA, and NASCAR. Horowitz spent five years as an Associate Producer before moving to ESPN.
Contributions at ESPN
At ESPN, Horowitz started as a Senior Producer and created studio shows for the media powerhouse. He also worked on the World Series of Poker. ESPN later promoted him to Coordinating Producer, where he produced weekly shows for ABC and Winners Bracket. He also produced and developed popular shows such as SportsNation with Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd. After three years as Coordinating Producer, he was appointed Vice President of ESPN’s Original Programming and Production team. In this position, he produced shows such as First Take, SportsNation, Colin’s New Football Show, and Numbers Never Lie.
Contributions at First Take and FS1
Horowitz’s contribution to the popularity and makeover of First Take is immense. The show gained popularity in 2012 because it focused on sports debating on athletes, coaches, and teams’ performances. The show featured media personalities and pundits like Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. Horowitz later took up more challenging roles at Fox Sports to elevate this type of embrace debating further. He oversaw the production of shows such as FS1, which played a key role in boosting the number of new viewers of the shows and sparked engagement among sports fans.
Current Position at WWE
Horowitz is currently the EVP of Digital and Development at WWE. He is expected to oversee the unscripted and scripted WWE programs across all social media and digital platforms. His moves will help solidify WWE’s reach and fan base in social media and Peacock.
Other Positions Held
Horowitz has held various other positions in the sports media industry. In 2015, he joined FOX Sports TV as their National Networks president and head. Before joining WWE, he was one of the executives at DAZN in North America. Horowitz left the organization in June 2021 after heading its EVP Content department for over two years. He has also owned and consulted Winning Time Productions for one and a half years.
Awards and Nominations
Horowitz’s contribution to the sports media industry has not gone unrecognized. He has been nominated for and won several awards, including the People’s Voice Award in 2012 and 2013.
Conclusion
Jamie Horowitz is a pioneer in the sports media industry, and his contributions have been immense. He has a passion for sports and innovation, which has seen him work with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. His career trajectory shows that he is a talented producer and leader who is always looking for ways to push the boundaries of sports media. His current position at WWE is a testament to his skills and expertise.
