Disney to pay at least $500M for YouTube video maker

Highlighting Web video's growing value to big media, The Walt Disney Co. on Monday said it would acquire Maker Studios for an initial sum of $500 million.

Maker Studios is a leading producer and distributor of short, entertaining videos on YouTube, usually geared toward millennials. Its channels amass 5.5 billion YouTube views per month, according to CNNMoney.

"By acquiring Maker Studios, Disney will gain advanced technology and business intelligence capability regarding consumers' discovery and interaction with short-form online videos, including Disney content," a news release about the acquisition said.

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