Advanced Television

A+E Networks, VICE to launch TV network

November 4, 2015

A+E Networks, a global media content company and VICE Media, the youth media brand and digital content studio, have announced a joint venture that will offer VICE as a new 24-hour channel programmed and produced exclusively by VICE. A+E Networks’ channel H2 will be transitioned to Viceland (working title).

Launching in early 2016, Viceland will be distributed in approximately 70 million homes, and will feature hundreds of hours of completely new programming developed and produced entirely in-house by the young creative minds that are the heart and soul of VICE, and the driving force behind its success over the last decade.

Nancy Dubuc, President & CEO, A+E Networks said, “VICE has a bold voice and a distinctive model in the marketplace. This channel represents a strategic fit and a new direction for the future of our portfolio of media assets. Shane Smith has led VICE from a fledgling magazine into a global media brand and all of us at A+E are excited to work with him and his passionate and innovative team.”

Oscar-winning writer/director Spike Jonze, a long-time VICE partner and creative director for the company, has been overseeing the development of the new channel, from show creation, to production, to brand identity.

“It feels like most channels are just a collection of shows,” said Spike Jonze. “We wanted Viceland to be different, to feel like everything on there has a reason to exist and a strong point of view. Our mission with the channel is not that different from what our mission is as a company: it’s us trying to understand the world we live in by producing pieces about things we’re curious about, or confused about, or that we think are funny. And if it doesn’t have a strong point of view then it shouldn’t be on this channel.”

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