Vice Media, known for its popular culture magazine and online news presence, recently premiered their new television channel Viceland.
DePaul senior Kate Silveri has been binge watching Viceland’s shows since their release on Feb. 29.
“All of the shows on Viceland cover relevant, gritty and controversial topics that most other television programming doesn’t,” Silveri said. “It’s about showing unique perspectives on the world through personal narratives.”
Viceland currently features eight shows with more in the works. From music to food to weed, the documentary-style programs target the millennial market.
“I’m most excited about ‘Huang’s World’ and how he explores how people express their culture and personal identity through food,” said Silveri.
Vice’s transition to television may be a risky move in today’s uncertain media landscape, but DePaul media communications professor Paul Booth is confident Viceland will reach its audience.
“It’s very unusual for a print company to expand to other media,” Booth said. “But as our media environment becomes more complex, it’s not surprising that a brand like Vice will want to explore other outlets and options. I suspect as long as the channel is available online it will find an audience.”
There are several ways to access Viceland. The Viceland channel is now available 24-hours a day on cable and satellite television. Episodes will also be for sale on iTunes and select episodes are already available for free online at the Viceland website. The new station is available in DePaul’s dorms on channel 103.1.
Junior Amanda Giannini looks forward to watching new content from Vice, a magazine she deems hip and sometimes controversial.
“I heard about Viceland when I was watching all the late night shows and the producer of the station was going around talking about it and I thought it sounded like a cool channel,” said Giannini.
“’Balls Deep’ is the show I’m most excited for,” she said. “It’s like when Morgan Spurlock went around for 30 days and just lived people’s lives. That’s what this guy is doing but better. I’m also really excited for Action Bronson’s food show.”
Vice was founded in Montreal in 1994. Since then, it has become known for its gritty international reporting on topics ranging from the life of homosexuals in Russia to Mexican prisons to sex trafficking in Cambodia. The website and magazine also feature lighter articles on taboo subjects such as sex and drugs. The Vice Media collective reaches over 200 million visitors every month.
Vice is no stranger to multimedia; the media company has been releasing its own videos online for years and has produced content for MTV and the Canadian television network City. Vice also features video content on social media app Snapchat. Vice’s 35-minute documentary on the world’s scariest drugs has nearly 17 million views on YouTube.
In 2014 A&E Networks, co-owned by Disney and media conglomerate Hearst Corporation, bought a 10% stake in Vice Media for $200 million. Viceland has now replaced A&E’s channel H2, formally a spin-off of the History Channel. Viceland plans to expand its channel to networks throughout Europe later this year.
“This network is the next step in the evolution of our brand and the first step in our global rollout of networks around the world,” co-founder and CEO Shane Smith said in a press statement.
Looking for your new favorite show? Here’s an overview of a few of Viceland’s new television shows:
Flophouse
This show explores the underground comedy scene and the world of stand-up comedy house shows in Los Angeles.
Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.
F*ck, That’s Delicious
Rapper Action Bronson hosts a show where he tries food from different regions, and that’s about it.
Thursdays at 9 p.m.
Gaycation
Actress Ellen Page travels around the world with her best friend to see the politics of different LGBT cultures first-hand.
Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
Weediquette
Vice correspondent Krishna Andavolu takes a closer look at the growing marijuana industry, specifically its medicinal uses.
Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
Noisey
This segment, a Vice staple, reports on the hip-hop scenes and surrounding violence in different cities. The first episode of Noisey on Viceland turns to Kendrick Lamar and his hometown of Compton.
Tuesdays at 9 p.m.