DISNEY XD AND MAKER STUDIOS LAUNCH TALENT AND CONTENT INCUBATION PROGRAM, "DISNEY XD BY MAKER"

Disney XD and Maker Studios will collaborate on Disney XD by Maker, a new initiative to search for and develop the next generation of creators for DisneyXD.com, the WATCH Disney XD app and original television series pilots for Disney XD cable and satellite channels around the world. The announcement was made today by Marc Buhaj, Senior Vice President, Programming and General Manager, Disney XD and Chris M. Williams, Chief Audience Officer, Maker Studios, the global leader in short-form content and the largest video network on YouTube.

Disney XD by Maker will incubate content with Maker's leading creators and will also utilize the Maker Offers platform to allow up-and-coming creators worldwide to participate. Videos created through the initiative will initially be distributed through creator channels on YouTube, with the potential for Disney XD to then distribute across digital and traditional platforms. The best of the best may also be developed further into television pilots for Disney XD.

Some of Maker's most popular talent, including CaptainSparklez, forrestfire101, ZexyZek, 101DarkMonkey, EvanTube, Luzu and Lana, and Random Encounters, will create original content, specifically made for this program. Interested creators, age 18 and over, can apply to be part of the initiative at makerstudios.com/DisneyXD. To cultivate their skills, participating creators will be provided tools, analytics and development guidance from both Maker and Disney XD as part of the program.

Buhaj said, "We're thrilled to collaborate with Maker and warmly welcome some of its brightest stars to the Disney XD family through Disney XD by Maker. Recognized by our audience as celebrities in their own right, these stars will pave the way for up-and-coming Disney XD by Maker talent, cultivating a creative community that drives inspiration, original storytelling and unique formats that can be shared globally."

Williams added, "The Disney XD team has incredible vision for embracing this new generation of talent and Disney XD by Maker is a significant commitment to the space. This collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind on-ramp for digital creators who aspire to work with the most prominent entertainment brand in the world."

"We're truly excited to build this bridge between TV and digital in alliance with two of the most respected names from those worlds," said Jared, the creator behind the EvanTube YouTube channels.

Maker Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, specializing in reaching millennial audiences across multiple programming genres. Maker's network includes 55,000 independent creators from more than 100 countries, attracting over 10 billion views per month, with a growing scale driven by its robust technology platform, direct-to-consumer distribution and data analytics. Maker is home to many of the world's leading online talent and award-winning original programs such as "Epic Rap Battles of History." For more information visit www.makerstudios.com.

Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids age 6-11, hyper-targeting boys and transporting them into worlds full of humor, unexpected fun and inspiring action-filled adventures. Disney XD-branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser-supported network that reaches over 80 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates. There are 31 Disney XD channels available in 25 languages around the world.