The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Maker Studios, the leading network of online video content on YouTube.
Rumours about a sale to Disney were doing the rounds the past few weeks. In December 2012, Time Warner invested $36 million in the studios.
Maker Studios shareholders will receive total consideration of $500 million, and a performance-linked earn-out of up to $450 million if the strong performance targets are met.
Maker Studios has more than 55,000 channels, 380 million subscribers and 5.5 billion views per month on YouTube.
By acquiring Maker Studios, Disney said iut “will gain advanced technology and business intelligence capability regarding consumers’ discovery and interaction with short-form online videos, including Disney content.”
“Short-form online video is growing at an astonishing pace and with Maker Studios, Disney will now be at the center of this dynamic industry with an unmatched combination of advanced technology and programming expertise and capabilities,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company.
“Disney is synonymous with the best entertainment and is the ideal partner for us, strengthening our position as the leading player in online video,” said Ynon Kreiz, executive chairman and CEO of Maker Studios.
Maker Studios will report to Disney CFO Jay Rasulo. Maker Studios will remain headquartered in Culver City, Calif., with operations in New York and London.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory clearances, is expected to close in Disney’s third fiscal quarter.
