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Charlie Ebersol

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Charlie Ebersol
Born
Charles Duncan Ebersol[1]

(1982-12-30) December 30, 1982 (age 41)
Torrington, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
Occupation(s)Tech entrepreneur, Television producer, television director, film producer, film director, co-founder and CEO of the Alliance of American Football
Spouse
Melody McCloskey
​
(m. 2017)​
Parent(s)Dick Ebersol (father)
Susan Saint James (mother)

Charles Duncan Ebersol (born December 30, 1982)[2] is an American entrepreneur and filmmaker. Ebersol is best known as the co-founder of Tempus Ex Machina[3] and The Company,[4] executive producer of USA Network's NFL Characters Unite and a co-producer of The Profit on CNBC.[5] He was also the co-founder and CEO of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.[6]

Early life and education

Charlie Ebersol was born in Torrington, Connecticut,[2] the son of actress Susan Saint James and senior television executive Dick Ebersol.[7]

On November 28, 2004, during Ebersol's senior year at the University of Notre Dame, he was involved in a plane crash along with his father.[8][9] Ebersol and his father survived the crash while his younger brother, Teddy, along with the pilot and a flight attendant were killed.[10][11] The injuries the Ebersols sustained in the plane crash were extensive,[12][13] but he returned to Notre Dame to finish his senior year and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[14]

Career

Early career

While studying at Notre Dame, Ebersol created his first documentary entitled Ithuteng: Never Stop Learning in 2006.[15] The movie received critical acclaim, winning the Toronto International Film Festival's first OneXOne award and inspired Oprah Winfrey to donate $1.14 million to the Ithuteng Trust School.[16] He produced the documentaries Don't Look Down, about the life of Olympian Shaun White after he won Olympic Gold in 2006,[17] and Tradition Never Graduates, a film about Notre Dame Football.[18]

In 2009, Ebersol formed and sold Saint James Films and also co-created and executive produced NBC's The Wanted, a primetime show in which Ebersol and producing partner Adam Ciralsky led a team of former Navy Seals, a former UN Ambassador and a former Lieutenant Green Beret around the world in search of the most wanted terrorists and war criminals.[19]

Production career

In 2011, Charlie Ebersol co-founded The Hochberg-Ebersol (THE) Company with Justin Hochberg and Mike Lanigan.[20] Early projects included TNT's The Great Escape,[7] executive produced with Bertram van Munster, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, and History's Off the Grid: Million Dollar Manhunt.[21]

Ebersol created USA Network's The Moment in 2013, a show hosted by Kurt Warner devoted to giving Americans a second chance to achieve their dreams. Ebersol was inspired to create the show after receiving his own second chance at life after surviving a plane crash in 2004.[22] Ebersol co-created and executive produced NFL Characters Unite, a yearly television special with USA Network,[23] as well as The Profit and West Texas Investors Club on CNBC. In 2013 he worked with Dolph Lundgren on the Reelz competition show Race to the Scene.[24]

The production company changed its name from THE Company to The Company in 2013, upon the exit of Justin Hochberg.[25] In 2014, The Company announced a production and finance partnership with Israeli production house Dori Media.[26][27] Ebersol executive produced The Untitled Yale Drama for USA Network along with Rob Reiner, [28] as well as Warner Brothers' Space Jam: A New Legacy.[29]

Ebersol directed This Was the XFL, a documentary in the 30 for 30 series about the XFL. He was chosen by ESPN to direct the documentary because of his father's co-founding of the league, and he used the longtime friendship between Dick and WWE chairman Vince McMahon as the centerpiece for the film.

Alliance of American Football

In March 2018, Ebersol announced the creation of a new professional football league called the Alliance of American Football.[30] Ebersol co-founded the league, which started playing in February 2019, with former NFL executive and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Bill Polian.[31] On opening night, the AAF launched an app on which fans could follow games with low latency and win points by predicting plays in real time.[32] The AAF app became the top sports app on the iOS store for the league's duration.[33]

Ebersol's father, who co-founded rival league XFL and who led NBC Sports and created Sunday Night Football, sat on the league's board.[34] The league was backed by investors such as Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, The Chernin Group and former NFL player Jared Allen, and employed coaches Mike Singletary, Brad Childress and Steve Spurrier as well as former NFL players including Justin Tuck, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu who held executive roles.[35][36]

Games were played during the "off-season," from February to April, and aired on CBS, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, TNT, B/R Live and the league's mobile app.[37]

After the AAF's primary investor, Reggie Fowler, did not contribute the $200 million he had promised, the AAF was purchased by Carolina Hurricanes owner Thomas Dundon after two weeks of play.[38] Dundon suspended league operations after eight weeks, then filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in April 2019.[39] Former players sued Dundon and Ebersol for breach of contract following the league's collapse,[40] but Ebersol was later removed as a defendant after investigators cleared him of wrongdoing.[41] In 2022, the lawsuit was dropped at the request of all parties involved.[42]

Infinite Athlete

In 2021, Ebersol co-founded Tempus Ex Machina with former AAF CTO Erik Schwartz and COO Annie Gerhart, receiving investment funding from firms including Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Silver Lake, Endeavor, and Will Ventures.[43][3]

Tempus Ex Machina provides data stream consolidation, data visualization, and integrated player tracking technology to sporting organizations including the National Football League, the NCAA's Pac-12 Conference, and Chelsea FC.[44][45]

In August 2023, Tempus Ex Machina merged with biomechanical analytics firm Biocore to form Infinite Athlete.[46]

Personal life

On March 17, 2017, Ebersol announced via Twitter his engagement to Melody Brooke McCloskey, Founder and CEO of StyleSeat. On July 29, 2017, Ebersol and McCloskey were married at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee.[47]

References

  1. ^ "Susan Saint James". Yahoo Movies Canada. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Newsmakers > Susan Saint James [gives birth to William James Ebersol]". Kentucky New Era. Associated Press. October 23, 1986. p. 8E. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Behind the curtains at Tempus Ex Machina: Up close with the leadership team that's developing the cutting-edge technology". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. February 8, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  4. ^ AJ Marechal [1] "THE Co. Co-Founder Justin Hochberg Exits Shingle (Exclusive)"] "Variety" July 3, 2013
  5. ^ [2] "The Profit (2013– ) Full Cast & Crew on CNBC"
  6. ^ Ourand, John. "Ebersol says upstart football league will showcase technology". New York Business Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  7. ^ a b John Ourand “Young Ebersol finds his place in TV production”, "Sports Business Journal", April 1, 2013
  8. ^ Sam Davis “Notre Dame senior Charlie Ebersol survives Colorado plane crash”, "The Observer", November 29, 2004
  9. ^ "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report, Accident Number DEN05MA029". NTSB. May 3, 2006. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  10. ^ “Ebersol family discusses plane crash that killed son”, "USA Today", February 2, 2006
  11. ^ “Susan Saint James remembers her son Teddy” Archived February 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, "TODAY.com", December 12, 2004
  12. ^ "Ebersols break silence to Oprah // The Observer". The Observer. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Claire Heininger [3] "The Observer", Wednesday, January 12, 2005
  14. ^ Klowetter, Barbara. Records Management Team, Office of the Registrar, University of Notre Dame.
  15. ^ Kaitlynn Riely “Ebersol to again go on ‘Oprah’”, "The Observer", April 20, 2006
  16. ^ Richard Sandomir “Film About Despair in South Africa, and School That Offers Hope”, "The New York Times", July 2, 2005
  17. ^ “Don't Look Down: Shaun White”, "Eye Candy Cinema", November 30, 2014
  18. ^ “Notre Dame: Tradition Never Graduates”, stephanmazurek.com, November 26, 2014.
  19. ^ Jim Halterman “Interview: "The Wanted" Executive Producers Charlie Ebersol & Adam Ciralsky”, "Futon Critic", July 20, 2009
  20. ^ Stuart Levine “Hochberg Ebersol Co. takes off”, "Variety", November 11, 2011
  21. ^ Jacob Goodwin “Off the Grid reality TV depicts real-world surveillance technologies”, "GSN: Government Security News”, November 29, 2011.
  22. ^ Randee Dawn “Charlie Ebersol seizes 'The Moment,' offers people a second chance at dreams”, "TODAY.com", April 12, 2013.
  23. ^ “"NFL Characters Unite" film to air Friday on USA Network”, "NFL.com", February 6, 2013
  24. ^ Deadline Team “Dolph Lundgren To Host ReelzChannel Competition Series 'Race To The Scene'”, "Deadline", July 25, 2012
  25. ^ AJ Marechal “THE Co. Co-Founder Justin Hochberg Exits Shingle (Exclusive)”, "Variety", November 10, 2013
  26. ^ Brian Steinberg “Charlie Ebersol, Israel’s Dori Media Set Production Venture”, "Variety", March 5, 2014
  27. ^ Daniel Holloway “The Company Partners With Israel’s Dori Media on International Venture”, "Broadcasting & Cable", March 5, 2014
  28. ^ Nellie Andreeva “Rob Reiner & Andrew Lenchewski Sell Spy Drama Set In Yale's Skull & Bones Society To USA”, "Deadline", August 13, 2014.
  29. ^ Busch, Anita (February 22, 2014). "Ebersols Aboard To Produce And Script Warner Bros' 'Space Jam 2' As A Starring Vehicle For LeBron James". Deadline. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  30. ^ Bixenspan, David (March 21, 2018). "Why Is Charlie Ebersol Launching A Direct Rival To His Buddy Vince McMahon's XFL?". Deadspin. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  31. ^ Fowler, Jeremy. "A new football league is here: The AAF has big plans". ESPN. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  32. ^ Roettgers, Janko (February 8, 2019). "New Pro-Football League Wants to Build a Data Business, Starting With Its Own App". Variety. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "Alliance of American Football is surprise ratings hit on first night". Yahoo Finance. February 11, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  34. ^ Spangler, Todd (March 20, 2018). "New Pro Football League Sets 2019 Debut With CBS Sports Pact". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  35. ^ Perez, A.J. (March 21, 2018). "New AAF pro football league, set for 2019 debut, described as 'complementary' to NFL". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  36. ^ Rovell, Darren. "Former NFLers involved in league to rival XFL". ESPN. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  37. ^ Moore, Greg (May 21, 2018). "Alliance of American Football might work by appealing to fans, gamblers in post-NFL window". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  38. ^ Kaplan, Daniel. "NHL owner Tom Dundon sued for at least $184 million over Alliance for American Football demise". The Athletic. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  39. ^ Goldberg, Rob. "AAF Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Owes over $9.6M to Creditors". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  40. ^ Fernandez, Gabe (April 10, 2019). "Lawsuit Claims The AAF Intentionally Misled And Defrauded Its Players". Deadspin. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  41. ^ Kaplan, Daniel. "Trustee seeks court's permission to sue Tom Dundon in bankruptcy case of failed football league". The Athletic. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  42. ^ Danner, Patrick (May 3, 2022). "San Antonio judge dismisses ex-football players' lawsuit". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  43. ^ "Inside Tempus Ex Machina as the company reveals its technology and significant impact on the NFL". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. February 9, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  44. ^ "Pac-12, Tempus Ex Machina to Develop Video-Sharing Tool for Student-Athletes to Monetize Game Highlights". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. August 4, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  45. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (April 10, 2023). "Charlie Ebersol on Tempus Ex Machina-Chelsea partnership: 'Our technology ultimately is infrastructure.'". Awful Announcing. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  46. ^ McCaskill, Steve (August 7, 2023). "Tempus Ex rebrands as Infinite Athlete, acquires Biocore to create 'OS for sport'". SportsPro. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  47. ^ "Melody McCloskey, Charles Ebersol". The New York Times. July 30, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
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