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File:MakerLogo OFFICIAL.png

Maker Studios was founded in 2009.

In June 2012, Maker Studios announced that over 1,000 channels signed under the network have received and accumulated over 1.1 billion views for the month of June 2012.{{cite news|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/06/30/maker-studios-billion-views/|title=Maker Studios Gets One Billion Views ...a Month| work=Tubefilter|date=June 30, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012}}{{cite news|first=Matthew |last=Manarino |url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/06/maker-studios-hits-1-billion-youtube-views-in-one-month-exclusive/|title=Maker Studios: 1 Billion YouTube Views in One Month |work=NewMediaRockstars|date=June 28, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012}} At the time, YouTube channels under Maker Studios collectively earned over 90 million subscribers. In October 2012, Maker Studios surpassed Machinima to become the number one independent YouTube network.{{cite magazine|first=Benny|last=Luo|url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/10/maker-studios-surpasses-machinima/|title=Updated: Maker Studios Beats Machinima – Now Ranked the #1 Independent YouTube Network on Comscore |magazine=New Media Rockstars|date=October 19, 2012|access-date=October 20, 2012}} However, since that time, according to comScore, in December 2012, Fullscreen passed Maker to become the top ranked YouTube-based network.{{cite news|first=Ed|last=Carrasco|url= http://newmediarockstars.com/2013/01/fullscreen-now-the-1-independent-youtube-network-according-to-comscore-interview/|title= Fullscreen Now The #1 Independent YouTube Network According to ComScore |work= New Media Rockstars| date=January 15, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2013}}

From late 2012 through 2013, Maker Studios and Ray William Johnson were involved in a public feud that received considerable media attention.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ray-william-johnson-fight-with-maker-studios-2012-12|title=This YouTube Star Is In The Middle Of A Very Ugly, Public Fight With His Studio|work=Business Insider|date=December 13, 2012|accessdate=August 21, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Gutelle|first=Sam|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/04/29/ray-william-johnson-maker-studios-lawsuit/|title=Ray William Johnson Escalates Maker Studios Feud, Threatens To Sue|work=Tubefilter|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=August 21, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Wallenstein|first=Andrew|url=https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/youtube-s-top-star-in-contract-dispute-1118060971/|title= YouTube's top star in contract dispute|work=Variety|date=October 18, 2012|accessdate=August 21, 2022}}{{clarify|what controversy?|date=January 2019}} Maker Studios formerly produced Johnson's Equals Three and Your Favorite Martian series. In October 2012, Johnson announced he would be leaving Maker Studios in an episode of Equals Three.{{cite AV media |date= October 16, 2012|title= World's Greatest Ninja!! – Ray William Johnson|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rur_5gFq3bg|access-date= January 21, 2013|format= YouTube|publisher= Ray William Johnson|series= Equals Three}}{{cite news |first=Logan|last=Rapp|url=http://sourcefednews.com/maker-studios-and-ray-william-johnson-battle/|title=Maker Studios And Ray William Johnson Battle|work=SourceFed News |date=December 11, 2012|access-date=January 21, 2013}} Johnson also formed his own production studio, Runaway Machine (formerly Runaway Planet).{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/12/11/maker-studios-ray-william-johnson-feud/|title=Maker and Ray William Johnson Still Feuding As Backstory Is Revealed| work =Tubefilter|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=January 14, 2013}}{{cite news |first=Sam|last=Gutelle|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/11/27/ray-william-johnson-runaway-planet-studio-julian-smith/|title=RayWilliamJohnson Starting His Own Studio With Help From Julian Smith| work =Tubefilter|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=January 21, 2013}} Johnson has stated online that he left Maker Studios due to the pressure the company put on him into signing a contract which gave Maker a 40% share of his channel's AdSense revenue and 50% of his show's intellectual property rights. He stated that they were using "thuggish tactics" to pressure him into signing the contract, one of which was allegedly leveraging his AdSense account for the intellectual property rights to Your Favorite Martian. He also claimed that Maker Studios CEO, Danny Zappin, is a convicted felon, which he was not made aware of, when teaming up with Maker Studios. Zappin later publicly admitted to this claim.{{cite news |author=Ray William Johnson|url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/12/why-i-left-maker-studios |title=RAY WILLIAM JOHNSON: Why I Left Maker Studios| work =New Media Rockstars|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=December 16, 2012}}{{cite magazine |author=Editorial Staff|url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/12/maker-studios-ceo-sends-company-wide-letter-addressing-ray-william-johnson-allegations//|title=BREAKING: Maker Studios CEO Sends Company-Wide Letter Addressing Ray William Johnson Allegations|magazine=New Media Rockstars|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}}{{cite news |first=Joshua|last=Cohen|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/12/12/maker-studios-ceo-sends-letter-to-employees-addresses-past-ray-william-johnson/|title=Maker Studios CEO Sends Letter to Employees, Addresses Past and Ray William Johnson|publisher=TubeFilter|date=December 12, 2012|access-date=January 14, 2013}}{{cite news|first=Tessa|last=Stuart|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2013-01-10/news/machinima-maker-studios-YouTube|title=YouTube Stars Fight Back| work=LA Weekly |date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 14, 2013}} This was one of the first such publicized contract disputes between a YouTube content creator and their multi-channel network.

In December 2012, Maker announced that it had closed a $36 million round of financing led by Time Warner Investments.{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Lawler|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/20/maker-studios-36m-time-warner/|title=With 2 Billion Video Views A Month, Maker Studios Raises $36 Million Round Led By Time Warner|work=TechCrunch |date=December 20, 2012|access-date=January 21, 2013}}

On March 24, 2014, Maker Studios, Inc. agreed to sell itself to The Walt Disney Company for $500 million, rising to $950 million if financial milestones were met.{{cite news |last=Fritz |first=Ben |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424052702303949704579459811194114736 |title=Disney to Buy Online-Video Network Maker Studios |work =Wall Street Journal |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2014|url-access=subscription }}{{cite news|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|title=Disney Buys Maker Studios, Video Supplier for YouTube| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/business/media/disney-buys-maker-studios-video-supplier-for-youtube.html |work= New York Times|access-date=March 27, 2014|date=March 24, 2014}} On April 14, 2014, Relativity Media submitted a competing bid of up to $1.1 billion, but Maker denied the bid.{{cite news |url= https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/relativity-offers-up-to-900-million-for-maker-studios-in-bid-to-outflank-disney-1201156736 |title=Maker Studios Says Disney Acquisition Is Approved by Shareholders, Who Reject Relativity Bid |last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=April 14, 2014|work= Variety|access-date=April 15, 2014}} In 2014, Jukin Media partnered with Maker Studios, giving Maker Studios access to Jukin's library of video clips, and giving Jukin access to Maker's operational resources, The partnership also resulted in the launch of a dedicated website for FailArmy, Jukin's owned and operated entertainment brand.{{cite web | url = http://mashable.com/2014/04/24/no-fail-here-maker-studios-makes-powerful-viral-video-partner-in-jukin-media/| title =No Fail Here: Maker Studios Gets Powerful Viral Video Partner in Jukin Media| work =Mashable | date =April 24, 2014| access-date = August 19, 2015}} In December 2015, the company became a subsidiary of Disney Consumer Products and the Disney Interactive division of The Walt Disney Company. The Network also partnered with Fusion TV in a deal that fell under the corporate umbrella of The Walt Disney Company.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/disneys-maker-studios-teams-with-disney-backed-fusion-to-produce-block-of-tv-programming-1201328617/|title=Disney's Maker Studios Teams with Disney-Backed Fusion to Produce Block of TV Programming|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=October 13, 2014|work=Variety|access-date=November 14, 2017|language=en-US}}

In February 2017, Maker Studios had around 60,000 YouTube partnerships, but announced that it intends to reduce this to about 1,000. Many partnered YouTubers had been unhappy with the terms of their contracts, including difficulty with ending contracts.{{cite news | first=Cecilia | last=D'Anastasio | url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2017/03/01/some-youtubers-are-overjoyed-that-maker-studios-is-firing-them | title=Some YouTubers are overjoyed that Maker Studios is firing them | publisher=Kotaku | date=March 1, 2017 | access-date=March 3, 2017 }} On May 2, 2017, Disney absorbed the studio into the newly formed Disney Digital Network.

On January 19, 2018, Twitch signed a deal with Disney to secure exclusive content from some of the entertainment giant's top YouTubers, including Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, Strawburry17 and LuzuGames. A total of four YouTubers (with a combined total of over 44 million subscribers), are involved in the deal, and each will manage their own channels on Twitch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-01-18-twitch-announces-deal-to-broadcast-exclusive-content-from-some-of-disneys-top-youtubers|title=Twitch inks deal to broadcast exclusive content from top Disney YouTubers|first=Matt|last=Wales|website=Eurogamer |date=January 19, 2018}}

Courtney Holt was the chief strategy officer of Maker Studios.{{cite news|first=Glenn|last=Peoples|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/courtney-holt-myspace-music-president-255341|title=Courtney Holt, Former MySpace Music President, Named CEO of Maker Studios, Maximillian DeStefano, stock marketer for maker| work =Hollywood Reporter| date=October 31, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2012}} Due to Danny Zappin stepping down as the company's CEO, Ynon Kreiz, former CEO and chairman of Endemol became the CEO of Maker Studios in May 2013.{{cite news |first=Peter|last=Kafka|url=http://allthingsd.com/20130507/maker-studios-ceo-danny-zappin-steps-down-replaced-by-endemo-vet-ynon-kreiz/|title=Maker Studios CEO Danny Zappin Steps Down, Replaced by Endemol Vet Ynon Kreiz| work=All Things D |date=May 7, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013}} Prior to Kreiz becoming the CEO of Maker, he was the company's chairman.{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Miller|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ynon-kreiz-maker-studios-endemol-341834|title=Ynon Kreiz Joins Maker Studios as Chairman (Exclusive)| work=Hollywood Reporter|date=June 26, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012}} Ryan Lissack is the current CTO of Maker Studios.{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Carney|url=http://pandodaily.com/2012/04/10/maker-studios-hires-former-salesforce-exec-ryan-lissack-as-cto|title=Maker Studios Hires Former Salesforce Exec Ryan Lissack as CTO|work=Pando Daily|date=April 10, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-date=July 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718144907/http://pandodaily.com/2012/04/10/maker-studios-hires-former-salesforce-exec-ryan-lissack-as-cto/|url-status=dead}} In December 2015, Courtney Holt replaced Ynon Kreiz as CEO, coming a year after Disney's acquisition of the group.

Animonster was an animation channel co-founded by Maker and Cosmic Toast Studios, which premiered shows such as Your Favorite Martian: The Series, Powerhouse, and Dino Yacht Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2011/12/06/maker-studios-animonster-youtube/|title=Maker Studios' Animonster Attacks YouTube|date=December 6, 2011|website=Tubefilter|access-date=September 29, 2023}} In 2013, the channel ceased uploading.

Cartoonium was an animation channel, launched on April 19, 2013 which focused on children programming.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/04/18/maker-studios-shay-carl-cartoonium/|title=Maker Studios' Shadycarl Partner with Animation channel on Cartoonium|date=April 19, 2013|website=Tubefilter|access-date=August 10, 2024}}

Maker Studios produced videos for channels on YouTube, including Consider the Source, Tessa Violet, Chuggaaconroy, Yves Bole, KassemG, Timothy DeLaGhetto, Shimmy AP, Nice Peter and EpicLLOYD's Epic Rap Battles of History (seasons 1-5), Joseph Garrett's Wonder Quest and I Wonder,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/27/youtube-stampy-minecraft-education-wonder-quest|title=YouTube backs digital star Stampy (Joseph's Youtube nickname) 's new Minecraft show Wonder Quest|last=Dredge|first=Stuart|date=2015-04-27|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-04-25}} KingManProds,{{cite news|first=Chaz|last=Kangas|url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2012/03/maker_studios_youtube_epic_rap_battles_history.php|title=Maker Studios Is Flush With YouTube Cash|work=LA Weekly|date=March 1, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014131345/http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2012/03/maker_studios_youtube_epic_rap_battles_history.php|archive-date=October 14, 2013|url-status=dead}} Sam Macaroni, along with several others{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Shields|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/youtube-natives-topping-big-names-early-138319|title=YouTube Natives Topping Big Names Early on Mom, science channels off to solid starts; eggheads, Demand Media struggle| work =Adweek|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=July 7, 2012}}{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Miller|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/maker-studios-280389|title=Maker Studios| work =Hollywood Reporter|date=January 11, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012}} that have almost as many viewers as Nickelodeon. Maker's first three channels produced for YouTube included Maker Music Network, Tutele, and The Mom's View, with both Maker Music Network and Tutele channels shutting down within six months of their launch.{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Humphrey|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2011/11/07/maker-studios-the-youtube-savants-talk-channel-expansion/|title=Maker Studios: The YouTube Savants Talk Channel Expansion| work =Forbes|date=November 7, 2011|access-date=July 6, 2012}} Maker Studios have also signed celebrities such as famous rapper Snoop Dogg and his YouTube channel WestFestTV,{{cite news|first=Marc |last=Graser |url=https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/a-fistful-of-rupees-mashes-up-games-and-youtube-talent-1118057247/|title='Fistful' of online content| work =Variety|date=July 30, 2012|access-date=August 9, 2012}}{{cite news|first=Drew |last=Baldwin |url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/06/29/snoop-dogg-maker-studios/|title= Maker Studios CEO Danny Zappin on Signing Snoop Dogg|work=Tubefilter|date=June 29, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012}}{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Frankel|url=http://paidcontent.org/2012/06/29/maker-studios-fires-up-snoop-dogg-partnership/|title=Maker Studios fires up Snoop Dogg partnership|work=Paidcontent|date=June 29, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-date=December 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217105924/http://paidcontent.org/2012/06/29/maker-studios-fires-up-snoop-dogg-partnership/|url-status=dead}} actor Robert De Niro's Tribeca Enterprises,{{cite news|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/05/02/robet-de-niro-tribeca-enterprises-partners-maker-studios-youtube-channel/|title=Robet De Niro's Tribeca Enterprises Partners with Maker Studios on YouTube Channel|work =Tubefilter|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=January 21, 2013}} and Kevin Smith.{{cite news|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|url= http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/01/14/kevin-smith-signs-with-maker-studios |title=Kevin Smith Signs with Maker Studios| work= Tubefilter |date=January 14, 2013|access-date=January 21, 2013}}

In 2013, the most popular Maker production was Epic Rap Battles of History, which averaged 30 million views an episode.{{cite news|first=Degen |last=Pener |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sxsw-maker-studios-execs-turning-427405|title=SXSW: Maker Studios Execs on Turning Down TLC and How Mobile Views Threaten Revenue| work =Hollywood Reporter|date=March 11, 2013|access-date=March 27, 2013}} Maker's most successful channel was PewDiePie, who was the most-subscribed user on YouTube. He was signed under the Maker sub-network Polaris and later Revelmode until February 13, 2017,{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/maker-studios-hits-reset-on-the-game-station-renames-it-polaris-1200571389/|title=Maker Studios Hits Reset on The Game Station, Renames it Polaris| magazine =Variety|first=Marc|last=Graser|date=January 8, 2013|access-date=March 16, 2014}}{{cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/pewdiepie-revelmode-network-1201678900/ |title=YouTube Megastar PewDiePie Launches 'Revelmode' Network |work=Variety |date=13 January 2016 |access-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117224034/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/pewdiepie-revelmode-network-1201678900/ |archive-date=17 January 2016 }} when Maker dropped him as a result of the international backlash to jokes and actions that media outlets widely described as anti-semitic.{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/disney-pewdiepie-anti-semitic-videos-1201987380/ |title= Disney's Maker Studios Drops PewDiePie Because of Anti-Semitic Videos|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=February 13, 2017|work= Variety|access-date=May 14, 2017}} During his time with the network, Maker produced his YouTube Red (now YouTube Premium) show Scare PewDiePie with Skybound Entertainment.{{cite web|last=Tassi|first=Paul|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/10/21/the-walking-dead-creators-are-trying-to-scare-pewdiepie-in-a-show-for-youtube-red/|title='The Walking Dead' Creators Are Trying To Scare PewDiePie In A Show For YouTube Red|work=Forbes|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=October 23, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Sarkar|first=Samit|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/21/9584414/scare-pewdiepie-youtube-red-skybound-entertainment-maker-studios|title=PewDiePie is getting a reality series on YouTube's new ad-free subscription service|work=Polygon|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=October 23, 2015}} Disney Digital Network in 2017 produced Hyperlinked, a series distributed on YouTube Red and based on the story of the social network Miss O and Friends, and Club Mickey Mouse, a reboot of The Mickey Mouse Club airing exclusively online on social media.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/disney-club-mickey-mouse-social-media-reboot-1202551317/|title=Disney Launches 'Club Mickey Mouse,' Rebooting Classic Kids' Show for Social Media|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=8 September 2017|website=Variety|access-date=17 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-digital-network-brings-fresh-original-content-directly-fans-around-world/|title=Disney Digital Network Brings Fresh, Original Content Directly to Fans Around the World|date=September 12, 2017|publisher=thewaltdisneycompany.com|access-date=October 27, 2018}}{{Cite web|date=2017-05-17|title=Disney Digital Unveils 'Hyperlinked'|url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/entertainment/disney-digital-unveils-hyperlinked|access-date=2021-10-18|website=licenseglobal.com|language=en}}

• Pixar
• Star Wars
• Marvel
• Oh My Disney
• Disney Style
• Babble
• Disney Family
• Disney Eats
• Polaris
• The Platform
• Animonster
• The Station
• Cartoonium
• The Mom View

• Disney FHO - Friends Hanging Out (2015–2016)
• Polaris Primetime (2017)
• Player Select (Polaris: Player Select for first season) (2017–2020)
• Parker Plays (2017–2018)
• Club Mickey Mouse (2017–2018)
• Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018)
• Disney Dream Job: Game Designer (2018 TV Special)
• Disney Comics in Motion (2018–2019)

• List of YouTubers
• List of multi-channel networks

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://makerstudios.com Official website for Maker Studios] (Archive)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://makerstudios.com Official website for Disney Digital Network] (Archive)

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Category:Maker Studios

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