CANNES – VICE, the fast-growing, New York-based video programmer of edgy lifestyle and entertainment, is readying the launch of a global news organization this year in the company’s “biggest commitment” says Andrew Creighton, president, in this interview with Beet.TV.  The project involves the opening of bureaus around the world with a big expansion of staffers and video freelancers.

The Brooklyn-based company is already publishing video news reports with a small cadre of freelancers.

Creighton explains that there is a big, untapped demand for the network’s brand of graphic, unvarnished news coverage. Acknowledging that some of the material will not be suitable for advertisers, he says that the news services will eventually become a subscription service.

We spoke with him earlier this week in Cannes at MIPTV.

Andy Plesser