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LAS VEGAS<\/strong> (May 26, 2026) \u2014 Qlay Co., the parent company behind Spy Ninjas, the longest-running, serialized narrative show on YouTube, today announced its evolution into Spy Ninjas Entertainment, a premier creator-led media company. As Spy Ninjas Entertainment, the company reaches nearly 100M fans every month through its eponymous flagship original family entertainment franchise across content, live entertainment, and other brand extensions. Under the leadership of newly appointed Spy Ninjas Studios President Shelly Soriano, the independently owned and operated company, founded by serial entrepreneurs and creators Chad Wild Clay and Vy Qwaint, is investing $25 million into scaling and accelerating its content pipeline and production capabilities, including expanding the use of its 65,000 square foot production space. This includes a commitment to hiring 50 new employees in 2026, with an emphasis on creatives with experience in serialized, narrative storytelling and other entertainment and production disciplines. The significant investment is a continued sign of the convergence of traditional Hollywood and the Creator Economy, as viewing habits shift from TV to digital platforms, with streaming now accounting for nearly 45% of TV viewership<\/a>.<\/p>\n Soriano, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Jubilee Media, brings a track record of building and expanding digitally native brands. Partnering with Chief Executive Officer Qwaint and Chief Creative Officer Clay, she leads the company\u2019s expansion into new content formats and verticals \u2013 inclusive of scripted and unscripted series, animation, FAST channels, and digital and traditional entertainment \u2013 while developing new revenue streams through strategic acquisitions and brand partnerships.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re entering a new era where digital-born franchises can stand shoulder to shoulder with Hollywood\u2019s most iconic IP,\u201d said Spy Ninjas Studios President Shelly Soriano. \u201cWith Spy Ninjas Entertainment and Studios, we have the opportunity to redefine what a global media company looks like \u2013 one that is creator-led at its core and expands across platforms and mediums, from YouTube to animation, experiential worlds, and beyond, with the same ambition and scale as traditional studios. The next generation of blockbusters is being built not just in Hollywood, but by creators directly in conversation with their fans. We intend to help define that future.\u201d<\/p>\n A central pillar of Spy Ninjas Entertainment\u2019s multi-million dollar content investment is a new \u201cSpy Ninjas Creative Class\u201d program, which aims to recruit and foster a new generation of creators and storytellers across the rapidly growing Creator Economy. The hiring and training initiative grows the Spy Ninjas universe with deeper, richer stories while helping shape the next era of serialized, narrative content. The move comes during a time of disruption across the entertainment industry, where the traditional path to a career in Hollywood is not as clear as it once was. The new Spy Ninjas program hopes to capitalize on the growing career opportunities that are available to creatives in the digital entertainment ecosystem, and its unique position as one of the few serialized shows earning a massive audience on YouTube today.<\/p>\n \u201cAs creators, we\u2019ve always focused on connecting authentically with our audience,\u201d said Co-founders Vy Qwaint and Chad Wild Clay. \u201cWith Shelly at the helm, what excites us now is scaling that relationship into a true franchise \u2013 one that spans digital platforms, consumer products, and real-world experiences. It shows that a brand born on YouTube can grow into a global entertainment company.\u201d<\/p>\n Blending serialized live-action episodes with successful YouTube formats has created a new genre on the platform that invites the audience to be a part of the story. Spy Ninjas is one of YouTube\u2019s most enduring franchises, driven by its unique approach, which has driven massive scale and engagement with 47 million-plus subscribers and 18 billion lifetime views, inclusive of more than one billion views in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n