• by Melynda Fuller , August 17, 2018

Vice Media signed a licensing deal this week with Bell Media to bring its line-up of programming back to Canada. Viceland content will air across linear and streamer channels, like CraveTV and SnackableTV and a short-form programming hub, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In addition to new programming, Bell Media has licensed Vice’s library of programming, rounding out at about 650 hours. 

The companies will also discuss the possibility of coproduction opportunities for both Canada and Vice platforms to launch internationally. 

After inking a three-year, $100 million deal with Canada’s Rogers Communications in 2014, Vice Media announced in January of this year that it would sever ties with the company and go off the air in the country. 

The initial deal with Rogers Communications was terminated as the Canada branch of Viceland began to lose revenue and subscribers.

In 2016, Viceland Canada reported a pre-tax loss of $2.49 million, after recording a miniscule pre-tax profit of $236,938 in 2015. Overall revenue for the channel fell 14.1 between 2015 and 2016. 

Following the termination of the deal, Viceland content was available to viewers in the country only on Vice.com. Viceland Canada went off the air at the end of March.

The first round of funding from Rogers Communications allowed Vice to expand its Viceland network of content and also build a production studio on Toronto.

Since severing the relationship between the two companies, Vice Media has been looking for a new Canadian partner to relaunch its content for viewers.