Since signing Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a client last year, WME agent and partner Josh Pyatt not only secured him a broadcasting deal with NBC Sports, but obtained commitments from the network to help build the retired NASCAR driver’s production company.
For client Alex Rodriguez, Pyatt negotiated for him to host and executive produce CNBC’s reality show “Back in the Game,” as well as a deal to become a contributor for ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Pyatt secured a deal for client Kobe Bryant to write, direct and create his own series, “Canvas” for ESPN, and landed Bryant’s Showtime documentary “Muse,” which followed the former Lakers star’s life and career.
“We signed Kobe two years before he retired [and] he is now off to the races,” said Pyatt, who is among a group of WME agents focused on signing iconic athletes and helping them build entertainment careers, and in some cases companies.
That business began in 2009, when WME signed former NFL defensive end Michael Strahan, who is seen as the pioneer crossover athlete. In 2014, WME signed LeBron James, and the agency’s business of representing superstar athletes took off.
“What makes Josh incredibly effective is he thinks in an interdisciplinary way, so he thinks about things in the sports world and he thinks about how that may tie into other businesses,” said Rick Rosen, WME partner and head of television.
James is executive producing more than 10 television programs, including the NBC hit “The Wall.” In the motion picture space, he has several projects in development at Warner Bros.
“LeBron’s 33 [years old],” Pyatt said. “When he retires, he will have a fully functioning media company. The idea behind all of what we are doing is to build businesses these guys can step into the minute their [sports] careers are over.”
— Liz Mullen
