Disney is starting to show its cards following the $500m acquisition of multichannel network Maker Studios. Just in time for MIPCOM, the international television market, the media giant announced that it is assembling Maker-branded program blocks for Disney Channel and Disney XD. The shows will include Maker’s online stars as well as Disney kids. Close on the heels of this development, Disney revealed that Maker will also be producing programs for Fusion, a youth-oriented television network co-owned by Disney and Univision.
These are early indications what we can expect to see as Disney and other traditional media companies adjust their business models to accommodate the explosion in online content. This could be good news for content providers as it becomes increasingly possible for them to build real businesses.