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.Vice Music Chooses The Orchard Business Wire. 13 January 2009
History
Formation 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.A Guerrilla Video Site Meets MTV The New York Times. 19 November 2007 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."The Snarky Vice Squad Is Ready to Be Taken Seriously. Seriously. Wired. 18 October 2007
Circulation VBS videos are available via the network's website, as well as being broadcast on MTV Latin America and MTV2.THE ANTI-CHRIST OF THE INTERNET RETURNS TO MTV2 DigitallyOBSESSED, 15 November 2008 VBS is currently featured as a weekly show on MTV2. 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." Much of it is now available at VICE.com.
Content The network's videos feature reporting on popular culture, travel, extreme sports, and music.Television for trendsetters The Guardian. 22 October 2007 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, a report on cocaine smuggling submarinesMackey, Robert. "Advances in Narco-Submarine Technology", The New York Times, 6 July 2010 and a documentary on hallucinogenic frogs in the Amazon rainforest.Simonini, Ross. "A Psychonaut’s Adventures in Videoland", The New York Times, 10 February 2012Hoby, Hermione. "Hamilton Morris gets high for a living – and invites you to watch", The Guardian, 1 June 2012 Other coverage includes a series of short documentaries about Darfur, Hurricane Katrina, Liberia, North Korea and suicide in Japan's Aokigahara Forest.Oshida, Emily. "The Forest turns Japan's suicide forest into an obstacle course for Americans", The Verge, 8 January 2016 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.Derrick, Lisa. "Vice TV: Revolutionary, Bold Pop Culture Explorations", The Huffington Post, 12 November 2009
Filmography Title Format Producer Channel Year Vice Guide to Travel Documentary film series VBS.tv VBS.tv, MTV2 2006Colombian Devil's Breath Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2007Cotroneo, Christian. "Devil's Breath: Scopolamine, AKA Burundanga, Hailed as 'World's Scariest Drug'", The Huffington Post, 3 September 2013 Balls Deep: Sewers of Bogota Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2007Asses of the Caribbean Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2007True Norwegian Black Metal Documentary film series VBS.tv VBS.tv 2007Heavy Metal in Baghdad Rockumentary VBS.tv VBS.tv, film festivals 2007Alarma! Documentary feature VBS.tv VBS.tv, film festivals 2008The Alli Show Documentary television series VBS.tv MTV2 2009VBS Meets Watermelon Woman Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2009White Lightnin' Dramatic feature VICE Films Film festivals 2009Aokigahara Suicide Forest Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2009Hamilton's Pharmacopeia: Sapo Diaries Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2009 The Vice Guide to Everything Television series VBS.tv MTV2 2010Interview with a Cannibal Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2010Rule Britannia Documentary film series VBS.tv VBS.tv 2010The Ride Documentary feature VICE Films Film festivals 2010Heimo's Arctic Refuge Documentary film VBS.tv VBS.tv 2010 The Fourth Dimension Three short films VICE Films Film festivals 2012Vice Documentary television HBO HBO 2013Lil Bub & Friendz Documentary feature VICE Films Film festivals 2013Reincarnated Documentary feature VICE Films Film festivals 2013
References
External links Official VBS.tv website