Sky has agreed to distribute the new Viceland channel when it launches in the UK & Ireland in September this year.
Produced by Vice Media, the 24-hour channel will be available to all Sky customers in the basic package, and to customers of Now TV through the entertainment pass.
The agreement also includes on demand rights that mean Sky and Now TV customers will have access to selected content some 24 hours before its linear airing.
Prior to the launch of the linear channel, Sky customers with the new Sky Q entertainment system will be granted access to Vice’s range of digital channels including Vice.Com Vice News, Motherboard and Munchies in Sky Q’s online video section.
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.
Stephen van Rooyen, chief marketing, sales & digital officer, Sky added: “We are really excited about what Shane and the Vice team have planned for Viceland. Vice has become synonymous with fresh and original content which has huge appeal for younger audiences. At Sky we are committed to bringing exciting new shows from all around the world to ensure Sky and Now TV households have a real breadth of content to enjoy whenever and wherever they choose.”
Viceland launched to critical acclaim in the US and Canada in February 2016 and features hundreds of hours of original programming, including Gaycation (with Ellen Page and Ian Daniel), Huang’s World (with Eddie Huang),Noisey (with Zach Goldbaum), FWeediquette (with Krishna Andavolu), and Balls Deep (with Thomas Morton).
Oscar-winning film director, Spike Jonze, serves as co-president of Viceland and is overseeing the development of the new channel.
Sky Media, Sky’s advertising sales division, will handle ad sales for the new channel, while working closely with Vice, utilising the youth media brand’s extensive relationships with advertisers.
