VICE has partnered with Jawa Pos TV and Google in Indonesia to bring linear and digital programming to the country, as well as launching local content and creative agency services.
VICE Indonesia, based in Jakarta, will bring VICE content in English and Indonesian to “a young audience that is consuming mobile, digital and linear content at a staggering pace”, the company says.
Each evening, news network Jawa Pos TV will air VICE News Tonight, VICE’s recently launched daily news show on HBO. Select VICELAND programming will also air on the network in prime time slots.
VICE will also create digital content powered by the world’s most prolific search tool Google. SEARCHLIGHT will showcase youth culture and nightlife across Indonesia to a global digital audience through a series of videos, stories and social events.
VICE Indonesia will create and distribute local and international programming to appeal to a young population of over 100 million people in the Asian country. Young people aged 18-34 comprise 50% of Indonesia’s overall population, where on average five hours are spent on the Internet by each person every day, claims VICE.
“With Indonesia’s massive young audience increasingly consuming video content across all screens, launching VICE here is a no brainer,” said VICE co-president James Schwab.
Mo Morris, managing director, VICE Indonesia, added: “We will aim to produce some of the most unique content Southeast Asia has ever seen. Indonesia is a great fit for VICE, a beautiful, turbulent and progressive country with an engaged young audience hungry for a media company that speaks their own language. By partnering with Jawa Pos TV and Google, we will be able to meet young people on whichever screen they are consuming content.”
This is the latest move in VICE’s Asian expansion. In October the company launched branded VICELAND blocks, which will eventually become 24-hour VICELAND channels, in 18 Southeast Asian territories, including Indonesia, through a partnership with MultiChannels Asia.
Partnerships with DOCOMO Digital and AbemaTV have also brought original VICE content to mobile and digital platforms across Japan.
VICE says it also plans to open will offices in India and the Middle East in the coming months.