In 1977, McManus began working as a production assistant and associate producer at ABC Sports.
[1] In 1979, he moved to NBC Sports and in 1982, aged 27, he became its vice-president of program development.
[1] In 1987, he became a senior vice president of American TV sales and programming for Trans World International, the television division of sports marketing firm International Management Group.
[1] Here, he continued to be active in negotiating broadcast rights deals for major American sports, such as the National Football League,[2] the NCAA, the PGA Tour and Southeastern Conference (SEC) football/ basketball.
[1] As president of news, he oversaw building of a modern newsroom and control room in New York[1] and created the series CBS Reports: Children of the Recession.