Jamie Horowitz is joining DAZN, the sports subscription service primarily focused on boxing and MMA, as executive vice president of content in North America, according to a company memo shared on Friday morning.
Horowitz will report directly to chairman John Skipper. The two previously worked together at ESPN, where Horowitz crafted several shows, including “First Take,” while Skipper was president. Horowitz later moved on to Fox Sports, where he served as president of FS1 from 2015 to 2017 before being fired after the network opened an investigation into claims of sexual harassment. Horowitz, through his attorney, denied any misconduct.
In his memo to staff on Friday, Skipper said that Horowitz will oversee original programming, live production and social media as part of his role. Horowitz joins DAZN as it prepares to invest about $12 million into original content.
DAZN, pronounced “da zone,” is a budding streaming service that costs $99 per year in the U.S. The service offers more than 100 fights per year and has already landed some of the biggest names in boxing, including Mexican fighter Canelo Alvarez, who signed a 11-fight deal with DAZN last year for $365 million.
Horowitz has worked for the last nine months as a consultant for DAZN, helping the service expand beyond its boxing roots. He’s assisted with “ChangeUp,” its recently-launched nightly baseball show that’s hosted by ex-ESPN anchor Adnan Virk and former “HQ Trivia” host Scott Rogowsky. Horowitz also helped facilitate a partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter, who produced a docuseries leading up to Saturday night’s Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs boxing match.
Skipper was tapped to lead DAZN last spring, about six months after he abruptly left ESPN after a cocaine dealer attempted to extort him. Skipper had been with ESPN for 27 years before his sudden resignation in late 2017.