Vice Media that runs TV channels like Viceland is coming to South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa with its content and will produce new local African content as part of a joint venture with Econet Media that runs Kwesé TV.
The joint venture between Kwesé TV and Vice Media will be known as Kwesé VICE.
Content from Vice Media, like its weekly documentary and news show VICE that's similar to Carte Blanche, was briefly broadcast by M-Net on MultiChoice's DStv in mid-2014.
Kwesé VICE will launch in 2018 and will produce original programming from its Johannesburg headquarters, with satellite offices in Nairobi, Kenya as well as in Lagos, Nigeria.
With Kwesé that is rapidly expanding its presence in Johannesburg from its South African head office in Bryanston, Kwesé Studios signage is for instance also already visible at the front entrance of the Urban Brew Studios lot in Randburg.
While Econet Media isn't yet allowed or licensed to operate its Kwesé TV service in South Africa as either an over-the-top or direct-to-home (DTH) offering, it last month launched its Kwesé Play Roku device in South Africa integrating a partnership with Netflix.
Moving forward Kwesé TV will be the home of the Viceland channel in sub-Saharan Africa as part of Kwesé TV's ongoing expansion across 45 African countries.
Besides the content division Kwesé VICE is establishing, it will also be housing a local African unit of Vice Media's ad agency, Virtue Worldwide in Johannesburg.
Vice Media says it will "hire the best young creatives, journalists and filmmakers locally, and air tailored lifestyle and culture programming across linear and digital platforms around-the-clock for the young audience in Africa."
"Continuing to build on what’s been a flourishing partnership with Econet over the past year, we're excited to be fully launching Vice across the region," says Matt Elek, CEO of Vice Media for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region in a statement.
"Pairing Econet Media's extensive local knowledge and innovative distribution with Vice's creative powerhouse and storytelling expertise, we're committed to delivering a fresh new voice for Africa's diverse youth audiences".
Joseph Hundah, president and CEO of Econet Media says "this venture is particularly exciting as it adds to our offering for the youth demographic across the continent".
"VICE is an important strategic partner for us in building an innovative, future-focused media business for Africa".
