– VICELAND launching Winter 2016, completing VICE's trinity of screens, moving content, advertisers, and audiences seamlessly across TV, mobile, and digital –
– New multimedia production powerhouse in downtown Toronto currently in development and production on nine new original, Rogers-commissioned series –
TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Rogers and VICE Media, the youth media brand and digital content studio, today announced details of the new 24-hour Canadian VICE channel, VICELAND, and unveiled the new VICE Canada production facility, located in the heart of Toronto.
The newest addition to the Rogers Media specialty portfolio, VICELAND will launch in Winter 2016, featuring hundreds of hours of new and exclusive programming developed and produced by the young creative minds that are the heart and soul of VICE. The license currently used for bio. will be rebranded to VICELAND. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Boasting the country's brightest young talent and serving as an incubator for the next generation of Canadian creators, the VICE Canada studio, which operates under VICE's creative direction and ownership, is currently in development and production on nine new, Canadian original series. Since the Rogers-VICE partnership was announced in October 2014, more than 100 writers, directors, editors, producers, and filmmakers have been hired to create sought-after, homegrown content for all screens, to be exported around the world.
"We're proud to be working with VICE to introduce a new voice in the media landscape through premium, original, cross-platform content that speaks directly to our millennial audience," said Rick Brace, President, Rogers Media. "This Gen Y audience is not only looking for entertaining content, but something that reflects their values and views of the world. Through VICELAND and content from the new VICE Canada studio, we will fill this void, bringing viewers a unique programming experience unlike anything they've seen before."
"Today we're at the most exciting place in our company's history, and on the verge of launching a national television channel in the country that gave us our start 20 years ago. The network, in partnership with Rogers, is the realization of the next phase of our growth. We will be truly platform agnostic, which will allow audiences to watch VICE on all screens; mobile, digital, and now, TV. Our new state-of-the-art production studio will give our family of creative geniuses a home in which to pursue their passions and make amazing content that will impact and change the Canadian media landscape as we know it. It's about time." Suroosh Alvi, Co-Founder, VICE Media.
VICELAND will launch with a full slate of prime-time shows, including Gaycation with Ellen Page (Freeheld) and friend and co-host Ian Daniel, and Black Market with Michael K. Williams (The Wire). Also a proud home to Canadian content, VICELAND will feature many series produced out of the VICE Canada studio, including Terror with VICE Media Co-Founder Suroosh Alvi.
Focusing on the often underreported issues and topics that matter most to today's millennials, the world-class slate of Rogers commissioned Canadian-made programming ranges from hard-hitting documentary series – Cyberwar and RISE – to unscripted entertainment series – Abandonment Issues, Dead Set on Life, Payday, and Shroom Boom – to seminal pop culture guides – VICE Essentials Canada, VICE Guide to Comedy, and VICE Guide to Film. Additional broadcast details to be announced at a later date.
A sneak peek of content produced out of the VICE Canada Studio will be available as of 2 p.m. ET today at RogersMediaTV.ca/Video/VICE. Please see media contacts below to obtain login information.
Additionally, new Fido-sponsored Daily VICE content – in addition to all past episodes – is currently available to all Canadians in both English and French on a nationwide free preview at the Daily VICE hub. The series continues to be available via the Daily VICE app, available to Fido customers.
As announced in October 2014, VICE Canada properties form part of a $100 million joint venture between Rogers and VICE Media.
About Rogers
Rogers Communications is a leading diversified public Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony services to consumers and businesses. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. Our stock is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit Rogers.com.
About VICE
VICE, which operates in over 30 territories and reaches hundreds of millions of people per month across digital, mobile and linear, is the leader in producing and distributing high quality youth content, offering viewers dozens of reoccurring franchises, daily long-form news coverage, a network of ten award-winning digital verticals, and a suite of record-breaking YouTube channels.
VICE has received numerous awards for its content including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special in 2014 for VICE on HBO, Webby Awards, two Peabody awards, a PEN Center Award of Honor for Excellent Writing, a Knight Foundation Innovation in Journalism award, an ASME National Magazine Award for Best Video, a Frontline Club Award, a Front Page award, an LA Press Club Award, and more.
SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.
Image with caption: "Rogers Communications Inc. (CNW Group/Rogers Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151105_C8740_PHOTO_EN_537866.jpg
Image with caption: "VICE Media (CNW Group/Rogers Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151105_C8740_PHOTO_EN_537840.jpg
Media Contacts: Stephanie Perron, Rogers, [email protected], 647.278.6799; Rakhee Sapra, VICE Canada, [email protected], 905.334.3516
Share this article