The move follows New York-based Vice earlier this week confirming it will launch Viceland stateside in partnership with A+E Networks.
Vice Media and Canadian cable and mobile giant Rogers Communications on Thursday unveiled plans to launch a new Canadian TV channel, Viceland, in early 2016.
A statement added that the channel would “feature hundreds of hours of completely new programming developed and produced entirely in-house by the young creative minds that are the heart and soul of Vice”. A release from Rogers says additional details will be announced in the coming weeks. In Canada, Rogers will replace its current bio channel with Viceland, and offer cross-platform content aimed at an 18 to 34 demo.
The partnership also promised an opportunity for Canadian content creators to distribute their work through a content incubator called the VICE Canada studio, which is now developing and producing nine new Rogers-commissioned series.
A few of the titles you can expect to see are Gaycation with Ellen Page, Black Market with Michael K. Williams, and Terror with VICE Media Co-Founder Suroosh Alvi.
“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”.
Additionally, new Fido-sponsored Daily VICE content – in addition to all past episodes – is now available to all Canadians in both English and French on a nationwide free preview at the Daily VICE hub.
“When H2 becomes Vice[land], Sling TV will carry it. The programmer is still finalizing the exact date, but I can confirm that we’ll get Vice at the same time as other distributors”, a Sling TV spokesperson told Gigaom via email.
Spokespersons for Rogers Media and Vice say the Canadian and USA channels are distinct, and the Canadian channel is a product of the joint venture between the two parties announced past year.
