Jump to content

Disney Digital Network

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by STHayden (talk | contribs) at 22:38, 27 January 2013 (→Success). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Maker Studios
TypeOnline content
Country
United States
AvailabilityInternational
Key people
Ben Donovan (President), Danny Zappin (CEO), Lisa Donovan, Ynon Kreiz (Chairman)
Picture format
1080p
Official website
MakerStudios.com
File:LisaPhoto2.jpg
Lisa Donovan of Maker Studios

Maker Studios is a company co-founded by Lisa Donovan, CEO Danny Zappin, Kassem Gharaibeh, Shay Butler and Ben Donovan.[1][2] Courtney Holt is the current COO of Maker Studios.[3] Ynon Kreiz, former CEO and Chairman of Endemol is the current Chairman of Maker Studios.[4] Ryan Lissack is the current CTO of Maker Studios.[5]

Content

Maker Studios produces several of the most popular series and channels on YouTube, including KassemG, Timothy DeLaGhetto, Peter Shukoff and Lloyd Ahlquist's Epic Rap Battles of History,[6] along with several others[7][8] that have almost as many viewers as Nickelodeon.[2] Maker's first three channels produced for YouTube included Maker Music Network, Tutele, and The Mom's View.[3][8][9] In April 2012 Maker Studios partnered with Mike Tompkins.[10] Maker Studios have also signed celebrites such as famous rapper Snoop Lion and his YouTube channel WestFestTV,[11][12][13] actor Robert De Niro's Tribeca Enterprises,[14] and Kevin Smith.[15]

Success

In June 2012, Maker Studios announced that the over 1,000 channels signed under the network received an accumulated over 1.1 billion views for the month of June 2012.[16][17] YouTube channels under Maker Studios have also collectively earned over 90 million subscribers.[11] In October 2012, Maker Studios surpassed Machinima to become the #1 independent YouTube network.[18] In December 2012, Maker announced that that it had closed a $36 million round of financing led by Time Warner Investments.[19]

Ray William Johnson Controversy

Maker Studios formerly produced Ray William Johnson's Equals Three and Your Favorite Martian.[18] In October 2012, Johnson announced he would be leaving Maker Studios in an episode of Equals Three.[20][21] Johnson had also formed his own studio, Runaway Planet, with fellow YouTuber, Julian Smith.[22][23] Ray William Johnson has stated online that he left Maker Studios due to the pressure the company put on him into signing a contract which gives 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 YourFavoriteMartian. Johnson also claimed that Maker Studios CEO, Danny Zappin, is a convicted felon, a charge which Zappin later publicly admitted to.[24][25][26][27] In response to an article Johnson wrote on New Media Rockstars explaining why he left,[24] Zappin commented "Ray. Your lack of integrity and character is sad. Your lies will not go without a full on expose about your selfish ego driven actions and the real truth. Maker will not tollerate lies of low life ego-maniacs that think they are better than everyone else. I will reply and lay out the facts in great detail since you feel this needs to be public. I have emails, contracts, revenue data and interviews with Maker staff and behind the scenes footage of your actions. The truth will prevail. We won’t allow you to slander us with lies without responding. I’m sorry you have taken it to this level. Stay tuned."[21] Following Johnson's departure from Maker, Johnson's YouTube channel saw a 130% subscriber increase.[28] One of Maker's Co-founders, Shay Carl, and other YouTubers, including the Fine Brothers, Philip DeFranco, KassemG and Shane Dawson responded to the situation on Twitter.[29]

References

  1. ^ Laura Sydell (June 18, 2012). "Lights, Camera, YouTube: Studio Cashes In On An Entertainment Revolution". NPR. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Claire Cain Miller (April 10, 2011). "Actors in Smaller Studios, Making Pictures for the Smaller Screen". New York Times. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Glenn Peoples (October 31, 2011). "Courtney Holt, Former MySpace Music President, Named COO of Maker Studios". Hollwood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  4. ^ Daniel Miller (June 26, 2012). "Ynon Kreiz Joins Maker Studios as Chairman (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Michael Carney (April 10, 2012). "Maker Studios Hires Former Salesforce Exec Ryan Lissack as CTO". Pando Daily. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  6. ^ Chaz Kangas (March 1, 2012). "Maker Studios Is Flush With YouTube Cash". LA Weekly. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  7. ^ Mike Shields (February 15, 2012). "YouTube Natives Topping Big Names Early On Mom, science channels off to solid starts; eggheads, Demand Media struggle". Adweek. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Daniel Miller (January 11, 2012). "Maker Studios". Hollwood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  9. ^ Michael Humphrey (Nov 7, 2011). "Maker Studios: The YouTube Savants Talk Channel Expansion". Forbes. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  10. ^ Glenn People (April 3, 2012). "Exclusive: Maker Studios Partners With Mike Tompkins in 'Long-Term Artist Development' Deal". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Marc Graser (July 30, 2012). "'Fistful' of online content". Variety. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  12. ^ Drew Baldwin (June 29, 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Maker Studios CEO Danny Zappin On Signing Snoop Dogg [VIDEO]". Tubefilter. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  13. ^ Daniel Frankel (June 29, 2012). "Maker Studios fires up Snoop Dogg partnership". Paidcontent.org. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  14. ^ Joshua Cohen (May 2, 2012). "Robet De Niro's Tribeca Enterprises Partners with Maker Studios on YouTube Channel". Tubefilter. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Joshua Cohen (January 14, 2013). "Kevin Smith Signs with Maker Studios". Tubefilter. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Joshua Cohen (June 30, 2012). "Maker Studios Gets One Billion Views …a Month". Tubefilter. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  17. ^ Matthew Manarino (Jun 28, 2012). "MAKER STUDIOS: 1 BILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS IN ONE MONTH [EXCLUSIVE]". NewMediaRockstars. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Benny Luo (October 19, 2012). "UPDATED: MAKER STUDIOS BEATS MACHINIMA — NOW RANKED THE #1 INDEPENDENT YOUTUBE NETWORK ON COMSCORE". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  19. ^ Ryan Lawler (December 20, 2012). "With 2 Billion Video Views A Month, Maker Studios Raises $36 Million Round Led By Time Warner". Tech Crunch. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Ray William Johnson (October 16, 2012). "WORLD'S GREATEST NINJA!! - Ray William Johnson". Equals Three. YouTube. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  21. ^ a b Logan Rapp (December 11, 2012). "Maker Studios And Ray William Johnson Battle". SourceFed News. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Sam Gutelle (December 11, 2012). "Maker and Ray William Johnson Still Feuding As Backstory Is Revealed". Tubefilter. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  23. ^ Sam Gutelle (November 27, 2012). "RayWilliamJohnson Starting His Own Studio With Help From Julian Smith". Tubefilter. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ a b Ray William Johnson (December 11, 2012). "RAY WILLIAM JOHNSON: Why I Left Maker Studios [EXCLUSIVE]". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  25. ^ Editorial Staff (December 11, 2012). "BREAKING: Maker Studios CEO Sends Company-Wide Letter Addressing Ray William Johnson Allegations". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  26. ^ Joshua Cohen (December 12, 2012). "Maker Studios CEO Sends Letter to Employees, Addresses Past and Ray William Johnson". TubeFilter. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  27. ^ Tessa Stuart (January 10, 2013). "YouTube Stars Fight Back". LA Weekly. Retrieved January 14, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Joshua Cohen (December 14, 2012). "Ray William Johnson Sees 130% Subscriber Increase After Maker Feud". Tubefilter. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Matthew Manarino (December 12, 2012). "SHAY CARL, PHILIP DEFRANCO AND KASSEM G SOUND OFF ON RAY WILLIAM JOHNSON CONTROVERSY VIA TWITTER". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved January 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

Template:Maker Studios

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Disney_Digital_Network&oldid=535240817"