Contents

VBS.tv

Vice Broadcasting System

Type of business	Subsidiary
Type of site	Video hosting service
Founded	March 2007
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Owner	Vice
Key people	Spike Jonze (creative director) Suroosh Alvi (Vice co-founder) Shane Smith (Vice co-founder)
Advertising	Vice Media
Current status	Merged

VBS.tv was an online television network owned by Vice Media, and later absorbed into VICE.com. The network produced original, short-form, documentary-style video content under the auspice of VICE Films. Subject matter included humanitarian issues, music, insider travel guides, and news. The creative director of the network was Spike Jonze.^[1]

History[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023)

Formation[edit]

VBS began as a deal between Viacom-owned MTV Networks and Logo Group. In March 2007, the network was formed; MTV funded the formation of the network, and Vice magazine would supply the content. MTV has the right to distribute VBS content across its worldwide network of channels.^[2] According to Vice co-founder Suroosh Alvi, "traditional journalism always aspires to objectivity, and since day one with the magazine we never believed in that...Our ethos is subjectivity with real substantiation. I don't think you see that on CNN."^[3]

Circulation[edit]

VBS videos are available via the network's website, as well as being broadcast on MTV Latin America^[2] and MTV2.^[4] VBS is currently featured as a weekly show on MTV2.^[5] VBS.tv content has appeared on CNN as part of their CNN presents line-up, with CNN stating that "... We believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our CNN.com readers."^[6] Much of it is now available at VICE.com.^{[citation needed]}

Content[edit]

The network's videos feature reporting on popular culture, travel, extreme sports, and music.^[7] The site has also produced special-interest and current affairs-based shows such as an interview with Hezbollah's self-proclaimed mayor of Beirut and a show that explored allegations of environmental abuse. It has also approached drug issues, producing a documentary about the criminal use of the drug scopolamine in Colombia,^[2] a report on cocaine smuggling submarines^[8] and a documentary on hallucinogenic frogs in the Amazon rainforest.^[9][10] Other coverage includes a series of short documentaries about Darfur, Hurricane Katrina,^[3] Liberia, North Korea and suicide in Japan's Aokigahara Forest.^[11] The network also produced Heavy Metal in Baghdad, a feature-length documentary film about Acrassicauda. The director of content of the network was Santiago Stelley.^[12]

Filmography[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official VBS.tv website