Maker Studios, a US-based media company which provides production and commercialisation services to a network of YouTube channels, has closed a $26m series C, second tranche round of financing from investors including Canal+, the French pay television channel owned by Vivendi, Astro Overseas Ltd, a media investment arm of Malaysia-based media and entertainment company Astro, SingTel Innov8, the corporate venturing unit of Asia-based communications company, SingTel Group, and investment firms Lakestar, Northgate Capital and Upfront Ventures.
Ynon Kreiz, executive chairman of Maker Studios, said: “Our objective was to expand our investor base to include major players in key international markets. With talent in more than 80 countries, our viewers outside the U.S. already account for more than half our total audience, and our new partners will be instrumental in continuing our growth as a truly global media company.”
Commenting on the growing popularity of online video, Kreiz added: “If you look at the numbers, you don’t have to be a genius to see where it’s heading.”
Maker’s C series funding now totals $62m. Previously, in December 2012, Maker raised a $36m series C, first tranche financing round led by Time Warner Investments, the corporate venturing unit of US-based media company Time Warner, together with backing from investors including Downey Ventures, the investment company of actor Robert Downey Jr, British television executive Elisabeth Murdoch, Ynon Kreiz, Maker’s chairman, and Avatar producer Jon Landau. Return backers venture capital firms Greycroft Partners and GRP Partners were also involved.
Earlier in September, Maker completed its acquisition of Blip, a US-based, online video series distribution platform. Launched in 2005, Blip’s investors include venture capital firms Canaan Partners, Bain Capital Ventures and Ambient Sound Investments.
Maker was founded in 2009.