Monday, March 24, 2014

Maker Studios Acquired By Disney For $500M

Culver City-based YouTube network Maker Studios has been acquired by Burbank-based Walt Disney Company, in a deal worth $500M, plus up to $450M in performance earn out. According to The Walt Disney Company, the deal will provide it with "advanced technology and business intelligence" around consumers' interaction with short form, online videos. Maker operates a network of YouTube content channels--over 55,000--which gets 5.5 billion views per month, according to Disney. Disney said Maker Studios will remain headquartered in Culver City. Maker Studios was venture backed by Time Warner Investmentsh Canal+, Astor, Singtel Innov8, Upfront Ventures, Greycroft Partners, and Downey Ventures, and had raised around $140M in venture funding.

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