Vice Media
Vice Media is a privately held multi-platform media company operating VICE Studios, VICE News, VICE TV (50M homes), VICE Digital (~100M users), and the VIRTUE brand agency, producing and licensing premium content for global audiences, streaming platforms, and brand advertisers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Vice Media does
Vice Media is a privately held, multi-platform digital media and broadcasting company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, operating since 1994 across seven branded divisions: VICE Studios (scripted, unscripted, and branded content production), VICE News (award-winning long-form journalism and documentaries), VICE TV (an Emmy Award-winning linear network reaching 50 million households), VICE Digital (vice.com, Munchies, Motherboard, Noisey, reaching nearly 100 million users via a partnership with Savage Ventures), VIRTUE (a global strategic and creative brand agency), Pulse Films and London Alley (commercial and music-video production studios, merged in 2025), and Cuba Pictures (UK scripted/unscripted label acquired in 2025), with VICE Sports added as a sports-content vertical in December 2024.
The company operates an integrated content infrastructure that combines proprietary editorial IP, owned distribution (linear TV, digital, social), licensed distribution (Hulu, Prime Video, Netflix, HBO, AMC+, Sky, Mubi), and a brand-agency layer (VIRTUE) that uses cultural-insight tools to advise advertisers such as Coca-Cola, Logitech, Delta, and Poppi. Technology assets consist of branded digital properties, content management systems, and AI-assisted publishing workflows rather than proprietary technical platforms.
Vice generates revenue through five primary streams: television and network licensing (VICE TV carriage and Studios content licensing), advertising and sponsorship across TV and digital, branded content and agency services via VIRTUE, studio production fees and content licensing via VICE Studios, and production services via Pulse Films and London Alley. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured around custom deal-by-deal agency engagements, content licensing agreements, and production commissions. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 and was sold for $350 million (down from a $5.7 billion peak valuation); it is currently operating under new ownership and leadership, with Adam Stotsky as CEO and Amy Powell as President of VICE Studios.
Vice Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vice Media
- Legal name
- VICE MEDIA LLC
- Website
- https://vicemedia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Vice Media is a privately held multi-platform media company operating VICE Studios, VICE News, VICE TV (50M homes), VICE Digital (~100M users), and the VIRTUE brand agency, producing and licensing premium content for global audiences, streaming platforms, and brand advertisers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vice Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Media and Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Media Representatives (54184), Media Buying Agencies (54183)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sponsorship & Sports Media Rights Buying (BPAFABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Media Relations & Rights Support Services (Press Ops, Rights Packaging Support) (MPAKAKAN), Footage & Stock Media Licensing (Archival/Newsreel/Stock) (MPADALAD), Media Barter & Trade Media Buying (BPAFABAL)
Keywords
Where Vice Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vice Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Television/Network Licensing: Vice Media produces hundreds of hours of original programming distributed through VICE TV reaching 50 million homes, as well as licensing content to streaming platforms and networks globally.
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Vice Media generates revenue through advertising across its television network, digital properties, and streaming partnerships.
- Branded Content and Advertising Services: VIRTUE, the global strategic and creative agency, creates branded content campaigns and cultural activations for major brands including Coca-Cola, Logitech, Delta, and Poppi.
- Studio Production and Content Sales: VICE Studios develops, finances, and produces premium content including scripted, unscripted, and branded content for global marketplace, generating revenue through production fees and content licensing.
- Production Studio Services: London Alley and Pulse Films produce commercials, music videos, and digital content for global brands and artists, generating production revenue.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vice Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vice Media is a multi-platform digital media and broadcasting company that develops, finances, and produces premium scripted, unscripted, and branded content distributed through its own VICE TV network, digital publishing platforms (vice.com, Munchies, Motherboard, Noisey), and licensed streaming and broadcast partners. It also operates VIRTUE, a global creative agency that produces branded content campaigns for major advertisers, and production studios Pulse Films and London Alley for music videos and commercials.
Product overview
Vice Media operates as a multi-platform media company organized into distinct branded divisions that work together as an integrated ecosystem. The core offerings include VICE Studios (full-service production for scripted, unscripted, and branded content), VICE News (award-winning documentaries and news), VICE TV (television network reaching 50M homes), and VICE Digital (digital portfolio with ~100M audience including VICE.com, Munchies, Motherboard, and Noisey). Supporting these are Virtue (strategic creative agency), Pulse Films and London Alley (production studios for music videos and commercials), and Cuba Pictures (acquired production label). The company recently launched VICE Sports in 2024 to expand sports programming. All divisions are connected through VICE's unified brand approach and shared creative network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cuba Pictures: Label behind hit Channel 5 series The Rumour and RTE's The Walsh Sisters
- Munchies
- Motherboard
- Noisey
Products and services
- VICE Studios A full-service production studio that develops, finances, and produces premium award-winning scripted, unscripted, and branded content for the global marketplace. Powers culture-defining content with a bold, authentic, raw approach, behind productions including Gangs of London, Dark Side of the Ring, Bama Rush, and Pavements.
- VICE News The news division of VICE Media producing long-form documentaries, video podcasts, and digital content. A multi-Emmy Award and Peabody-winning content unit under Editor-in-Chief Shane Smith, focused on alternative, unfiltered journalism.
- Virtue A global strategic and creative agency that combines insight, brand strategy, and creative execution to help brands become a force in culture. Uses proprietary cultural insight tools and connects brands with VICE's network of creators and storytellers, serving clients such as Coca-Cola, Logitech, Delta, and Poppi.
- VICE TV An Emmy Award-winning television network producing hundreds of hours of original programming reaching 50 million homes. Features immersive docu-style content including Dark Side of the Ring, Hell's Angels, and United Gangs of America.
- VICE Digital The digital portfolio of VICE Media publishing content including VICE.com, Munchies (food), Motherboard (technology), and Noisey (music). Partners with Savage Ventures and reaches a digital audience of nearly 100 million.
- London Alley An award-winning creative content and production studio known for shaping culture through visually striking storytelling. Specializes in music videos, commercials, experiential marketing, and digital content for global brands and artists.
- Pulse Films An award-winning, talent-driven production studio shaping the future of visual storytelling across branded entertainment, commercials, and music videos.
- VICE Sports A sports content brand launched in December 2024 featuring original programming including Dark Side of the Ring, NFL PLAYBACK, Arena Football One, and coverage of BIG3 basketball and BYB Bare Knuckle Boxing.
- Cuba Pictures A production label behind hit Channel 5 series The Rumour and RTE's The Walsh Sisters. Acquired by VICE Media from UTA's Curtis Brown in April 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50 million TV households reached
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Vice Media
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vice Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Vice Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Starbreeze EntertainmentminorVice Studios secured worldwide adaptation rights for the iconic Payday video game IP, partnering with Starbreeze Entertainment to expand the franchise into film and television.
- V10 EntertainmentminorVice Studios partnered with V10 Entertainment to co-produce creator comedy series Clip Bait.
- Cuba PicturesminorVice Media acquired Cuba Pictures from UTA's Curtis Brown, a producer behind hit series The Rumour and The Walsh Sisters.
- Omaha ProductionsminorVice Sports teamed with Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions, in association with NFL Films, to produce The NFL Playback documentary series.
- London Alley EntertainmentcoreVice Media acquired London Alley Entertainment, a commercial and music video production studio, to merge with Pulse Films. The acquisition aims to expand Vice Media's content creation capabilities.
- BYB Bare Knuckle BoxingminorVice TV and BYB Bare Knuckle Boxing reached a landmark multi-year media rights agreement for sports content.
- Savage VenturescoreVice Digital operates in partnership with Savage Ventures, reaching an audience of nearly 100 million through vice.com and branded digital properties.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vice Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vox Media: Digital media company operating editorial brands (Vox, The Verge, SB Nation) and podcasting. Vox Media shares the Lupa Systems investor relationship (James Murdoch) and competed with Vice in the same digital publisher category, making it a close comparable.
- BuzzFeed: Digital media company targeting similar youth/millennial audiences with editorial and video content. BuzzFeed similarly struggled with public market pressures and digital ad economics, making it a direct comparable for Vice's business model challenges.
- Group Nine Media: Digital-first media holding company operating NowThis, The Dodo, Seeker, and Thrillist. Group Nine targets similar mobile-first millennial/Gen-Z audiences with video content, making it a comparable peer for audience and content strategy.
- Pulse Films: Vice Media's wholly-owned production studio (merged with London Alley). Listed as a peer because Pulse Films itself produces branded entertainment and music video content, overlapping with Vice Studios' commercial production offering.
Emerging players
- Crooked Media: Podcast and digital media company (Pod Save America) backed by Soros Fund Management, which also invested in Vice. Crooked Media targets similar progressive-leaning younger audiences, making it a comparable emerging peer with shared investor overlap.
- Audacy: Audio broadcasting company also backed by Soros Fund Management. Audacy represents comparable broadcast-media exposure with similar secular headwinds in advertising-driven media business models.
Broad incumbents
- Warner Bros. Discovery: Major media conglomerate operating TV networks and producing premium content. WBD's cable/broadcasting operations and content studio footprint overlap with VICE TV and VICE Studios, making it a broad incumbent comparable.
- Netflix: Global streaming platform that both commissions VICE Studios content (e.g., Lewis Capaldi documentary) and increasingly competes as an in-house producer. Netflix represents the platform-power dynamics that constrain VICE's studio economics.
- The Walt Disney Company: Previously a Vice Media investor ($200M investment in 2015) and operator of broadcast networks, sports rights (ESPN), and streaming services. Disney represents the scale incumbents VICE competes against for advertising and content licensing deals.
- Condé Nast: Established multi-brand media publisher (Vogue, GQ, Wired, Vanity Fair) competing for the same brand advertisers and premium audiences as Vice. Condé Nast operates at larger scale with a broader portfolio but faces similar digital advertising headwinds.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vice Media social profiles
Digital presenceVice Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vice Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Vice Media subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Vice Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds11 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vice Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A8 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vice Media
What does Vice Media do?
Vice Media is a multi-platform digital media and broadcasting company that develops, finances, and produces premium scripted, unscripted, and branded content distributed through its own VICE TV network, digital publishing platforms (vice.com, Munchies, Motherboard, Noisey), and licensed streaming and broadcast partners. It also operates VIRTUE, a global creative agency that produces branded content campaigns for major advertisers, and production studios Pulse Films and London Alley for music videos and commercials.
Is Vice Media a public or private company?
Vice Media is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Vice Media founded?
Vice Media was founded in 1994. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Vice Media based?
Vice Media is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vice Media make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Television/Network Licensing is the primary driver. The others are advertising and Sponsorship, branded Content and Advertising Services, studio Production and Content Sales and production Studio Services.
Who are Vice Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vox Media, BuzzFeed, Group Nine Media and Pulse Films. Emerging players are Crooked Media and Audacy. Broad incumbents are Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, The Walt Disney Company and Condé Nast.
Does Vice Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vice Media.
What industry is Vice Media in?
Vice Media's product category is Digital Media and Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFABAH, Sponsorship & Sports Media Rights Buying, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAN, Sports Media Relations & Rights Support Services (Press Ops, Rights Packaging Support). Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 4833.