Popular video production company Maker Studios is apparently raising a new round of funding led by old media entertainment company Time Warner, according to AllThingsD.
Maker Studios does online video production that can be found on YouTube. It’s video partners have over 80 million subscribers and 1 billion monthly views across more than 1,000 channels, which put it on par with Google-owned Machinima. Its most popular shows/channels range in topics, and include everything from Epic Rap Battles of History to The Moms View. (See below for an Epic Rap Battle between Back to the Future’s Doc Brown and the Doctor.)
Time Warner Investments is said to contribute $40 million to the round, which could reach a total of $150 million at a $200 million valuation.
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If true, this could be a very big deal for YouTube, which has made a massive effort to boost the level of premium content on its site in the last year. Google has already invested $200 million into its premium channel partners, and also acquired video game video company Machinima for $35 million back in May. It’s also significant because media conglomerates like Time Warner are finally starting to see the business potential in producing quality YouTube videos.
Photo via NoBizPlan
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