Scoop: Manning's Omaha Productions in talks with Chernin's studio

Details: A deal with Chernin would mark the first major outside investment into Omaha Productions, which launched officially in 2021.

• Chernin, a veteran media executive and investor, launched The North Road Company with $800 million in outside funding in July to supply TV and film distributors with an array of scripted and nonscripted content.
• The precise details of the deal discussions could not be determined.

Catch up quick: Omaha Productions is known for ESPN’s popular "ManningCast," a broadcast program that features Peyton and his younger brother Eli.

• Omaha also produces ESPN+’s "Places" franchise, a documentary series about the history of various sports hosted by star athletes.

Be smart: In recent months, the company has expanded into more sports-adjacent and lifestyle content, like reality shows, award shows and podcasts.

• It's currently co-producing an unscripted series about professional sports collector Ken Goldin for Netflix, and it also produces digital content, like a barbecue show on YouTube.

Between the lines: Omaha makes most of its money from licensing and production deals and branded content.

• In June, it announced a multiyear strategic partnership with Caesars Sportsbook to create a full-service audio production network to develop audio content for both companies' social channels.
• It's dabbled in web3 initiatives, announcing a sports collectibles partnership with MINT Collective earlier this year.

The big picture: Athlete-led production companies are booming as streamers and TV networks look for more opportunities to include personalities in their programming.

• Religion of Sports, the sports media production company co-founded by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and filmmaker Gotham Chopra, raised $50 million in June.
• LeBron James' SpringHill sold a minority stake that valued the production company at $725 million last year.