ViacomCBS International Studios launches balcony stories, first short form user generated content series

ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) announced today the production of Balcony Stories, a slate of short-form content to celebrate the positive and creative ways people are experiencing this unusual global situation.

The short-form series, produced by VIS in collaboration with Fremantle, leverages user-generated content from both audience and talent, redefining the role of the users by transforming them into active storytellers and the protagonists of their shows.

Being locked down at home has turned into something real for the majority of people around the world. Still, if our house doors are closed, our eyes are wide open: all around the world, people have opened their balconies and their homes to share their special moments with us, and those moments are part of Balcony Stories.

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.”

Premiering tomorrow on ViacomCBS Networks International’s linear channels MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Paramount Networks, BET and Spike, and on digital platforms across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia, the new short-form series offers an exclusive look into our new lockdown life, with balconies transforming into windows that look into everyone’s homes during this unusual time. 

The content will be localized into 27 local versions and will air across 130 countries and 100 channels, with four daily episodes airing Monday to Friday. In Asia, the clips will air on MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Channel with cut-down versions on social platforms. An extended weekend special will also be aired every Saturday from May 2.

Balcony Stories videos show off new daily routines, the sense of humor arising from this situation, the relationships, the love, the artists within us all – a testament of human tenacity and how people from all around the world, from Japan to the Netherlands, are taking on these strange times. Starting from tomorrow, all users will be able to submit their own videos and clips by uploading them to balconystories.tv.

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