Viceland hires ex-Talpa exec to lead Benelux

Vice Media has appointed a former Talpa Media and Twitter executive to helm the upcoming launch of linear channel Viceland in the Benelux region.

Stefan Tieleman (pictured) has been named general manager of Viceland Benelux. He’s responsible for the launches of the youth-skewed network in the Netherlands on the Ziggo pay TV platform and in Belgium on Telenet.

Vice last year landed deals to launch Viceland in 51 territories following its debut in the US on cable.

Tieleman is best know in TV circles for a nine-year run at John de Mol’s Talpa Media between 2006 and 2015, during which time he was involved in the launch of reality competition format The Voice.

More recently, he was head of media, Benelux, and partnership manager at social networking firm Twitter. He joins Vice on January 16.

Vice CEO Shane Smith has repeatedly claimed Viceland provides young adult and millennial audiences with a programme mix other traditional broadcasters are ignoring.

Ratings have so far been poor in the US and UK, but the company’s huge digital media following and influence means many pay TV operators were enticed to take the channel, which currently broadcasts in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Ratings in Australia have fared better.

“I’m convinced that Viceland can really add something new to the current TV landscape,” said Tieleman. “With the mix of strong international content and unique local productions, Viceland offers an authentic and personal view of the world for a millennial audience. I’m really looking forward to contributing to that.”

Vice Benelux CEO Thijs Boon said Tieleman had a “strong background in TV production” and combined that “digital and social media experience”.

“Besides that, he has a boundless energy that will help the TV team to launch Viceland successfully in the Benelux market,” added Boon.