Marie Donoghue built Amazon’s sports strategy for Prime Video and spearheaded its drive for “Thursday Night Football.” Now, the longtime sports business exec is betting on a new role with DraftKings, becoming its chief business and growth officer as the wagering brand it looks to expand its media reach.
Donoghue, who left Amazon on Jan. 4 as its No. 2 sports exec and the highest-ranking women in sports broadcasting, joins a company that already has a relationship with her former boss at ESPN, John Skipper, and his Meadowlark Media outfit (DraftKings back in 2021 struck a $50 million deal to distribute Dan Le Batard’s eponymous podcast.
DraftKings last year launched its own streaming service, with the free, advertising-supported channel available for now through Samsung TV Plus. Barstool Sports also is in advanced talks on a wide-ranging sports deal with DraftKings for content.
Donoghue and Amazon’s Jay Marine were named SBJ's Most Influential People in Sports Business in 2022.
