Viceland

Defining success in a connected content world is not straightforward. Is the buzz on social media more important than overnight ratings? And how does one commission shows that will play equally effectively on all devices across all platforms? 

Those were the main questions addressed in “Meet the new commissioners.” Session chair Jane Martinson, The Guardian’s head of media, asked some familiar faces with years of experience how the digital world is affecting their decisions. 

The youthfully cool Vice Media, famous for its guerrilla-style coverage of war zones and drug busts, has built its brand online. Yet it is about to launch a traditional TV channel in the UK and plans to make it available in 44 countries via different partnerships. 

It’s almost as if Apple had suddenly unveiled a record deck minus any kind of connectivity. Or is it? 

The rapid growth of the new TV channel makes Viceland the "fastest growing television network in history."

Speaking at a press conference at the Cannes Lions advertising festival, CEO Shane Smith said, "When I first announced Viceland was going to launch in 12 countries in 12 months everyone rolled their eyes.

"It turns out they were right, we were wrong. We didn't do 12 countries in 12 months; we did 44 countries in four months."

The channel will launch in September and will be developed entirely in-house by the Vice creative team.

Viceland launched in the US and Canada to great acclaim in February 2016, offering hours of original content and attracting big names, including Gaycation with Ellen Page and Ian Daniel, Huang’s World with Eddie Huang, F*ck, That’s Delicious with Action Bronson, and Balls Deep with Thomas Morton.