VIS Launches Short-Form Series Balcony Stories

ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) has started production on Balcony Stories, a short-form series to celebrate the ways people are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Produced by VIS in collaboration with Fremantle, Balcony Stories leverages user-generated content from both audience and talent, transforming users into active storytellers and the protagonists of their own shows. Videos will show new daily routines, the sense of humor coming out from this situation, relationships, love and more from people all over the world.

Balcony Stories will premiere tomorrow (April 22) on ViacomCBS Networks International’s linear channels MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Paramount Networks, BET and Spike, and on digital platforms across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The content will be localized into 27 versions and will air across 130 countries and 100 channels, with four daily episodes airing Monday to Friday. A selection of the best content from the week will also be aired every Saturday in an extended edition.

Raffaele Annecchino, president of ViacomCBS Networks EMEAA, said: “At ViacomCBS, we have always been committed to reaching our audience everywhere and at any time. Now that we are living in this unprecedented situation, more than ever, we need to stay connected and close to our fans, helping them to stay positive. Balcony Stories was born with this spirit. During these months, our eyes have opened up as well as our imagination, our sense of humor, and the artist within us all. Sharing the fun and emotional stories that we are all living can underline even more the fact that we are still all together, reflecting the empathy, creativity and positive vibes from around the world. With Balcony Stories, we want to celebrate this positive attitude.”