Vice Media

Vice Media Group LLC is a Canadian-American media and content-production company whose best-known consumer brand is Vice. It developed from a Montreal alternative-culture magazine into a multinational digital publisher, television producer, documentary maker, creative agency, and broadcaster. The company’s editorial identity has traditionally emphasized youth and young-adult audiences, immersion reporting, subcultures, music, food, technology, art, politics, and subjects that were often underrepresented in mainstream media. The business began in Montreal in 1994 as a magazine initially called Voice and later Voices of Montreal. Suroosh Alvi and Gavin McInnes worked on the publication, with Shane Smith joining the staff. The three later acquired the magazine, renamed it Vice, and developed a more distinctive editorial and visual identity. After outside investment and a period of expansion, the founders bought the company back and moved its principal operations to New York City, particularly Brooklyn, in the early 2000s. Vice’s major transformation came through digital video. With creative direction from Spike Jonze, the company expanded from print into online programming and launched VBS.tv in partnership with MTV Networks in 2006. It subsequently created or acquired a collection of editorial verticals covering technology, music, art, food, sports, fashion, and global news. These included Motherboard, Noisey, The Creators Project, Thump, Munchies, Vice Sports, Broadly, and Vice News. The company also built Virtue, a creative-services and advertising agency, allowing it to produce branded campaigns for clients as well as editorial work. The news operation became one of Vice’s most visible divisions. Vice News used documentary-style reporting and field-based coverage of protests, conflict, politics, and social issues. Its HBO documentary series Vice premiered in 2013 and later won a Creative Arts Emmy. Vice News Tonight, a nightly program using pre-edited video and graphics rather than a conventional anchor format, followed in 2016. Vice also entered television more broadly through Vice TV, a joint venture with A&E Networks formerly associated with the Viceland channel, and through Vice Studios, its film and television-production business. During the 2010s, investors including 21st Century Fox, A&E Networks, Disney, and TPG Capital supplied capital for international growth and scripted programming. The company reached a reported private valuation of approximately $5.7 billion in 2017, but subsequently faced advertising-market pressure, restructuring, layoffs, governance problems, workplace-misconduct allegations, and difficulties integrating digital publishing with television and production businesses. HBO ended its relationship with Vice in 2019, and Vice consolidated several standalone web verticals into the main Vice.com platform that year. Vice acquired Refinery29 in 2019 in a transaction reported at approximately $400 million. The combination was intended to broaden its audience and strengthen its position in digital media, but the company continued to experience financial strain. In 2023 Vice Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and agreed to a sale process. A consortium led by Fortress Investment Group acquired the company’s assets for a reported $350 million. Following the restructuring, the business operated through a smaller collection of activities including Vice Studios Group, Vice TV, Virtue, and Vice Digital. In 2024 the company announced further layoffs and said Vice.com would cease regular publishing, while later distribution partnerships and new content activity indicated that the Vice brand and selected production operations continued. Its post-bankruptcy model is more focused on content production, licensing, distribution, television, and commercial creative services than the large standalone digital-news network it operated during its peak.

Vice began in Montreal in October 1994 as Voice, a publication created with support from Interimages Communications. Suroosh Alvi served as editor, Gavin McInnes as assistant editor, and Shane Smith joined the staff soon afterward. The magazine covered Montreal’s alternative cultural scene, including skateboarding, drugs, music, art, and trends. Alvi, McInnes, and Smith bought out the original publisher and changed the name to Vice in 1996. An investment from Canadian financier Richard Szalwinski helped the company expand, and Vice moved its base toward New York in the late 1990s. The founders later repurchased the business and established operations in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The company’s editorial voice, visual style, and focus on subcultures helped it build an international readership. Vice’s digital transition accelerated in 2006 when it launched VBS.tv with MTV Networks. The service carried travel, music, documentary, and unusual factual programming. During the following years Vice created specialized online channels including Motherboard for technology, Noisey for music, The Creators Project for art and technology, Thump for electronic music, Munchies for food, Vice Sports, and Vice News. It also established Virtue Worldwide as a creative agency serving commercial clients. The company entered television and documentary production on a larger scale during the 2010s. Its HBO series Vice premiered in 2013, while Vice News developed a reputation for field reporting from conflicts, protests, and politically sensitive locations. Vice News Tonight began in 2016. Vice also worked with A&E Networks to create Viceland, later known as Vice TV, and expanded into scripted and unscripted film and television production. Growth was financed by major strategic and private-equity investors. 21st Century Fox invested in 2013, A&E Networks invested in 2014, Disney made additional investments in 2015, and TPG Capital invested $450 million in 2017. The latter transaction was associated with a reported valuation of $5.7 billion. At the same time, the company faced criticism over sensationalism, editing practices, workplace culture, and the boundaries between immersive journalism and entertainment. In late 2017, reporting detailed allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct, including several settlements. Vice acknowledged failures in creating a safe and inclusive workplace. Shane Smith stepped down as chief executive in 2018 and Nancy Dubuc became CEO. The company subsequently reduced its workforce, reorganized its digital channels, raised debt, and sought to adapt to a difficult online advertising market. Vice acquired Refinery29 in 2019, but the enlarged company continued to experience financial pressure. It announced substantial layoffs in 2020 and investigated allegations concerning Refinery29’s workplace culture. Vice also faced editorial criticism in 2021 after publishing digitally altered images connected with the Khmer Rouge genocide and issued an apology. In May 2023 Vice filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A consortium led by Fortress Investment Group acquired the company’s assets in a transaction reported at $350 million. The post-bankruptcy organization was smaller and more concentrated on Vice Studios Group, Vice TV, Virtue, and selected digital and licensing operations. In 2024 the company announced additional layoffs and the planned cessation of regular publishing on Vice.com. Subsequent distribution partnerships and later content activity show that the Vice brand continued, although its structure and scale differed substantially from its peak as a large independent digital publisher.

1. 2024Digital publishing operation downsized

   Vice announces further layoffs and the planned end of regular Vice.com publishing.

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2. 2023Chapter 11 restructuring

   Vice files for bankruptcy protection and begins an asset sale led by Fortress Investment Group.

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3. 2019Refinery29 acquisition announced

   Vice agrees to acquire Refinery29 to broaden its digital-media portfolio.

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4. 2017TPG makes major investment

   TPG Capital invests $450 million as Vice pursues international and scripted-content growth.

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5. 2016Vice News Tonight premieres

   Vice launches its nightly news format on HBO.

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6. 2013Vice expands into HBO news programming

   The Vice documentary series premieres on HBO.

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7. 2006VBS.tv launches

   Vice enters online video through a partnership with MTV Networks.

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8. 2001Operations move to New York

   The founders repurchase the company and move operations to New York City.

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9. 1996Magazine renamed Vice

   The founders acquire the publication and adopt the Vice name.

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10. 1994Vice begins in Montreal

    The publication that became Vice is founded as Voice, focusing on alternative culture in Montreal.

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A provocative, youth-oriented media brand combining immersive journalism, cultural coverage, documentary storytelling, entertainment production, and creative services.

• Vice.comDigital publishing1996

  The company’s principal digital publication and brand hub, carrying reporting, essays, video, culture coverage, and material from former verticals. Vice.com became more centralized after the company folded several standalone channels into sections of one platform in 2019. Regular publishing was later announced for closure during the 2024 restructuring, although the brand continued to be used for selected content and distribution activity.

• Vice NewsDigital journalism2013

  Vice’s international news division, recognized for documentary reporting from conflict zones, protests, elections, and politically sensitive environments. It produced web video, documentaries, and television programs, including the HBO series Vice and Vice News Tonight. The division was reduced during later restructuring and no longer operated at the scale associated with Vice’s 2010s expansion.

• Vice TVTelevision network2016

  Vice’s television business, developed with A&E Networks and associated with the Viceland channel before the Vice TV name became prominent. It distributes documentary, factual, entertainment, and culture-oriented programming designed around Vice’s editorial sensibility and production library.

• Vice Studios GroupFilm and television production2013

  The production arm responsible for developing and producing documentary, factual, unscripted, and scripted film and television projects. Following the 2023 restructuring, studio and distribution activities became more central to the company’s business model than large-scale owned digital publishing.

• VirtueCreative services2014

  Vice’s creative agency and commercial-content operation. Virtue develops branding, advertising, experiential work, and editorially styled campaigns for clients, using the company’s production capabilities and understanding of youth culture. It extends Vice beyond media ownership into marketing and creative services.

• MunchiesFood media2014

  A food-focused Vice editorial and video brand covering cooking, restaurants, chefs, culinary subcultures, and food-related personalities. It was one of the specialized digital channels later consolidated into Vice’s central platform.

• 2020Azimuth Music Festival

  Saudi Arabia

  Vice organized the Azimuth Music Festival in Saudi Arabia. Its involvement was not prominently identified in marketing materials, and contractors reportedly signed nondisclosure agreements. The activity attracted scrutiny because Vice had previously paused work in Saudi Arabia after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.

  Outcome. Commercial activity resumed in Saudi Arabia but generated criticism over transparency and reputational risk.

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• 2017Snapchat Discover partnership

  Global

  Vice expanded its relationship with Snap after serving as an early global launch partner on Snapchat Discover. The arrangement supported short-form and platform-native programming, including Hungry Hearts with Action Bronson.

  Outcome. Expanded mobile distribution and platform-specific programming.

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• 2023Chapter 11 bankruptcy and asset saleOther

  Vice faced sustained financial difficulties, declining digital-media economics, and the need to reorganize its liabilities and operations.

  What changed. Vice filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and agreed to an acquisition process led by Fortress Investment Group.

  Aftermath. A Fortress-led consortium acquired the company’s assets for a reported $350 million, producing a smaller and more production-focused business.

  Reported acquisition price. $350 million (2023)

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• 2019Centralization of digital editorial brandsStrategy

  Maintaining numerous separate web channels became more difficult as digital advertising economics weakened.

  What changed. Vice folded several brands, including Munchies, Noisey, Motherboard, Broadly, and Vice Sports, into sections of the main Vice.com platform.

  Aftermath. The move reduced the prominence of standalone verticals and simplified the company’s digital structure.

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• 2019Acquisition of Refinery29M&A

  Vice sought to broaden its audience and strengthen its position in digital publishing and advertising.

  What changed. Vice agreed to acquire Refinery29 in a reported transaction valued at approximately $400 million.

  Aftermath. The combined company remained subject to advertising-market pressure and later announced substantial layoffs and restructuring.

  Reported transaction value. Approximately $400 million (2019)

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• 2018Leadership transition after workplace controversyStrategy

  The company faced public allegations concerning workplace culture and needed to address governance and operational problems while continuing its international expansion.

  What changed. Shane Smith moved from chief executive to executive chairman, and former A+E Networks chief Nancy Dubuc became CEO.

  Aftermath. Dubuc led restructuring and efforts to restore profitability, but Vice continued to face financial pressure and later downsizing.

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• 2021Altered Khmer Rouge victim imagesControversy

  Vice published colorized images connected with Khmer Rouge genocide victims that had been digitally manipulated, including apparent smiles added to some faces. After criticism from Cambodian audiences and others, Vice admitted the alterations, apologized, and said it would review its editorial process.

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• 2017Sexual harassment and workplace misconduct allegationsControversy

  Reporting identified multiple settlements and allegations involving sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct by Vice personnel. Company leaders acknowledged that Vice had failed to provide a safe and inclusive workplace. Subsequent investigations and leadership changes followed.

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• 2024Vice announces further layoffs and planned end of Vice.com publishing

  Chief executive Bruce Dixon announced additional reductions and said the main Vice.com publishing operation would stop producing regular content.

  BankruptcyLeadership change
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• 2023Vice files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

  Vice Media entered Chapter 11 proceedings and agreed to an acquisition process led by Fortress Investment Group.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2020Vice announces major layoffs

  The company announced layoffs affecting more than 150 staff amid financial difficulties.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2019HBO ends relationship with Vice

  HBO canceled Vice News Tonight and ended its broader relationship with Vice Media.

  Leadership change
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• 2019Vice consolidates digital channels

  Several editorial verticals were folded into sections of a central Vice.com platform.

  Other
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• 2019Vice acquires Refinery29

  Vice agreed to acquire women-focused digital publisher Refinery29 in a transaction reported at approximately $400 million.

  M&A
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• 2017TPG investment values Vice at approximately $5.7 billion

  TPG Capital invested $450 million to support scripted programming and international expansion.

  M&A
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• 2016Vice News Tonight premieres

  Vice introduced a nightly HBO news program built around pre-edited video, graphics, and global reporting.

  Product launch
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• 2014A&E Networks invests in Vice Media

  A&E Networks invested $250 million for a reported 10 percent stake and later partnered with Vice on television.

  M&A
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• 201321st Century Fox invests in Vice Media

  21st Century Fox invested $70 million for a minority stake in Vice Media.

  M&A
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• 2013Vice premieres HBO documentary series

  The weekly Vice documentary program debuted on HBO and became a central part of the company’s news profile.

  Product launch
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• 2006Vice launches VBS.tv digital video service

  Vice expanded from magazine publishing into online video through VBS.tv, a joint venture with MTV Networks.

  Product launch
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1. Vice Media
2. Vice Media files for bankruptcy protection
3. Vice workplace allegations