Vice to launch new channel on Sky
March 9, 2016
Vice Media and Sky have confirmed a new partnership that will offer Viceland, the brand new TV channel from Vice, to Sky and NOW TV customers when it launches in the UK & Ireland in September this year.
The 24-hour channel will be programmed, developed and produced entirely in-house by Vice’s creative team, and the channel will be available for all Sky TV customers in their basic TV subscription packages either live, on demand or on the go through Sky’s mobile TV service, Sky Go. NOW TV Entertainment Pass customers will be able to watch Viceland on demand.
The partnership between Vice and Sky means that for selected Viceland series, Sky and NOW TV customers will have exclusive on demand access to the first episode 24 hours ahead of the first live airing. In addition, every subsequent episode of the series will be exclusively available to Sky and NOW TV customers immediately after the premiere episode has aired.
Oscar-winning film director, Spike Jonze, serves as Co-President of Viceland and is overseeing the development of the new channel, from show creation, to production, to brand identity. Viceland will focus on a distinct, immersive style of original lifestyle and culture content for young viewers and will feature a slate of brand new Vice-produced UK programming, including a cast of talent both familiar and new to British and Irish audiences, ensuring the channel has a strong local feel and voice.
Shane Smith, Vice co-founder and CEO said: “This is the biggest move yet in our long love affair with our British and Irish audience. Viceland is going to give them a whole new way to experience Vice content—on their own televisions, around the clock. And partnering with Sky gives us their deep expertise in the market, and the ability to reach over 10 million households across the UK and Ireland.