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| Vice (TV series) | |
|---|---|
| Show name | Vice |
| Genre | News magazine |
| Presenter | Shane Smith |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Num episodes | 24 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Network | HBO |
| First aired | 2013 |
| Last aired | 2019 |
Vice (TV series) is an American television newsmagazine that aired on HBO from 2013 to 2019, produced by the media company founded by Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi. The series adapted the editorial approach of the Vice Media magazine and online channel into a televised documentary format, deploying correspondents to cover stories about Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and other global hotspots. It combined long-form reporting with immersive field footage and editorial segments focused on current affairs, international conflicts, and cultural phenomena.
The program launched as an expansion of Vice Media's reportage, connecting editorial priorities from the Vice (magazine) brand with the production resources of HBO. Promoted as a blend of documentary reportage and investigative journalism, the show featured reporting from correspondents affiliated with Vice, including field producers who had previously worked on coverage of Libya, Ukraine, and the Arab Spring. It positioned itself alongside television documentaries such as those by Frontline (PBS), 60 Minutes, and Panorama (BBC), while drawing on the visual style of Vice's online channels and collaborations with outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times.
Production was overseen by Vice Media executives including Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi, with HBO providing distribution and editorial partnership. The series employed a production model using small field crews and local fixers to access locations such as Kiev, Tripoli, Baghdad, Ramadi, Kabul, and Sana'a. Episodes often involved coordination with broadcasters and non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and international bureaus affiliated with Reuters and Associated Press. Technical production drew on cinematographers experienced with documentary work for festivals like Sundance Film Festival and networks including Vice Films and independent production houses that had worked on projects about ISIS, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda.
Each hour-long episode typically contained multiple segments mixing on-the-ground reportage, interviews, and archival footage. The reporting subjects ranged from geopolitical crises—covering events like the Syrian civil war, the Iraq War, and the Russo-Ukrainian War—to cultural and social topics involving cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, London, and Toronto. Interviews included politicians, military figures, activists, and civilians, sometimes featuring figures associated with Bashar al-Assad, Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the context of reportage. Segments examined economic and social repercussions tied to events such as the 2008 financial crisis and policy debates linked to institutions like NATO and the United Nations.
Stylistically, the series favored immersive camerawork, long-travel shoots, and a narrative voice that reflected Vice Media's editorial persona. The program moved between conflict zones, political centers like Washington, D.C. and Brussels, and cultural scenes including coverage of SXSW, Burning Man, and nightlife in Berlin.
The show ran multiple seasons with episodes organized around thematic packages and serialized investigations. Notable episodes focused on topics such as the rise of ISIL, foreign interventions in Libya, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the migrant crisis in Greece, and the opioid epidemic in the United States. Episodes featured extended investigations into corporate and technological actors including profiles touching on companies and institutions like Facebook, Google, Walmart, and pharmaceutical entities implicated in the opioid supply chain. Specials documented electoral-related reporting during cycles involving 2016 United States presidential election and international elections in countries such as France and Brazil.
Critical reception varied: some commentators praised the series for bringing immersive international reporting to a cable audience and for its cinematic style, comparing it to work by documentarians like Ken Burns and series such as Vice News Tonight, while others criticized its editorial choices and presentation. The program contributed to Vice Media's prominence in multimedia journalism and influenced how legacy outlets approached digital-native storytelling, with industry observers from Variety, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post assessing its role. The show's reporting won industry recognition from organizations tracking journalism and documentary work, and it spurred collaborations and licensing deals between Vice Media and broadcasters worldwide, affecting distribution discussions with companies such as Sky News and networks under WarnerMedia.
The series was subject to controversies over editorial judgment, sourcing, and staging accusations linked to certain segments. Critics and journalists from outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, and Columbia Journalism Review raised questions about ethics and verification in some reports. Other disputes involved workplace culture within Vice Media, publicized in coverage by BuzzFeed News and items cited in legal filings and internal investigations that referenced executives and producers. Episodes that featured access to armed groups and controversial political figures often generated debate involving commentators from CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC about journalistic standards and the potential normalization of extremist actors.
Episodes originally premiered on HBO and became available via the network's platforms such as HBO Go and HBO Now during the show's run. International distribution was managed through partnerships with broadcasters and streaming services in regions served by Sky Atlantic, Crave (streaming service), and other cable operators. Select segments and shorter edits appeared on Vice Media's digital platforms and social channels, and some episodes were included in documentary lineups at festivals including Sundance Film Festival and screenings curated by organizations like Human Rights Watch Film Festival.
Category:American documentary television series