Disney Media Networks has signed a deal with Google’s YouTube that will bring short-from content from various Disney properties to the Web video giant.
As part of the deal, clips from the Disney-ABC Television Group and ESPN will begin to appear on the site. ESPN content will roll out beginning in mid-April, while Disney-ABC TV content, including material from ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Family and SoapNet, will debut in early May.
Disney Media will control the advertisements sold on the Disney and ESPN channels.
ESPN will integrate its own player on the YouTube channel, while still allowing for content to be viewed through YouTube’s standard player. Long-form content, however, will not be available on the ESPN channel or player.
“This deal provides us with the opportunity to reach a broader online audience, to experiment with different monetization models and to extend the reach of our advertisers within branded environments that they most desire,” Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC TV Group, said in a statement.
“Our diverse collection of ad products, Content ID tools and sophisticated online analytics, provide studios like ABC with innovative monetization options, more control over their online content and granular insight into how audiences are interacting with their videos,” said David Eun, VP of strategic partnerships for Google.
The Disney/ABC and ESPN channels will be available to U.S. online viewers and will launch with YouTube’s already established InVideo overlay ads and regular display graphics. Disney Media also will be allowed to test pre-roll video ads under the agreement.
The channels will be available at http://www.youtube.com/ABC and http://www.youtube.com/ESPN.