Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Disney To Buy YouTube Video Supplier Maker Studios

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

And today's last word in business is: Moneymaker - as in, Maker Studios.

The company is a big deal in the world of short form entertainment Web videos, with more than 55,000 channels, 380 million subscribers and five billion views a month on YouTube.

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

And it is one of the top online video networks for young audiences. It has a video series called "Epic Rap Battles of History." This one pits Nicola Tesla against Thomas Edison.

(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE'S, "EPIC RAP BATTLE OF HISTORY")

WERTHEIMER: Seems the Walt Disney Company wants a piece of the online video action. It announced yesterday plans to buy Maker Studios for $500 million and another potential $450 million to Maker's shareholders if it meets certain performance targets.

GREENE: Maker Studios falls in line with was other Disney acquisitions, including Marvel and also the Star Wars enterprise. Now I guess it's time to hear rapping between Mickey and Captain America.

That is the business news on MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm David Greene.

WERTHEIMER: And I'm Linda Wertheimer.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.