• Join Puck

    Directly Supporting Authors

    A new economic model in which writers are also partners in the business.

    Personalized Subscriptions

    Customize your settings to receive the newsletters you want from the authors you follow.

    Stay in the Know

    Connect directly with Puck talent through email and exclusive events.

  • What is puck? Newsletters Authors Podcasts Events Gift Puck Careers

Zucker’s Sir Charles Play

Sources tell me that Jeff Zucker is close to financing a new venture involving Charles Barkley’s production company—a move that would unite two third-act stars from different fields and add the latest piece to RedBird IMI’s evolving thesis.

charles barkley
Barkley’s media aspirations have been the source of extraordinary fascination in recent months, since Warner Bros. Discovery effectively lost its NBA deal. Photo: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images for The Match
John Ourand
September 27, 2024

When mega-famous athletes look to leverage their influence and credibility past their playing days, many inevitably follow a tried and true path: They find a business partner and form a production company. Peyton Manning, who launched Omaha Productions with Jamie Horowitz in 2020, recently received an investment from The Chernin Group valuing the company at more than $400 million following the success of shows like Quarterback. (Yes, that’s an insane valuation in this environment, but so it goes…)