| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 2007 |
| Headquarters | New York, United States |
| Key people | Spike Jonze (creative director) Suroosh Alvi (Vice co-founder) Shane Smith (Vice co-founder) |
| Owner | Vice |
| Slogan | Rescuing you from television's deathlike grip[1] |
| Type of site | Video hosting service |
| Advertising | Vice |
| Available in | English |
| Current status | Active |
VBS.tv is an online television network owned by the Vice media conglomerate. The network produces original, short-form, documentary-style video content. Subject matter includes humanitarian issues, music, insider travel guides, and news. The creative director of the network is Spike Jonze.[2]
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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 rights to distribute VBS content across its worldwide network of channels.[3] 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."[1]
VBS videos are available via the network's website, as well as being broadcast on MTV Latin America[3] and MTV2.[4] VBS is currently featured as a weekly show on MTV2.[5] Online circulation reached over 2.5 million hits in 2008.[6] Recently, VBS.tv content has appeared in CNN as part of their CNN presents lineup, with CNN stating that "... We believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our CNN.com readers."[7]
The network's videos feature reporting on popular culture, travel, extreme sports, and music.[8] 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.[3] Other coverage includes a series of short documentaries about Darfur, Hurricane Katrina,[1] Liberia, and North Korea.
The network also produced Heavy Metal in Baghdad, a feature length documentary film about Acrassicauda.