Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), formerly the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, is an operation supported by the Defense Media Activity (DMA). It provides a connection between world media and the American military personnel serving at home and abroad. It supports all branches of the U.S. military and combatant commands worldwide.^[1]

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS)
DVIDS logo
Country	United States of America
Branch	Defense Media Activity
Type	Multimedia and Information
Role	Media and public relations
Part of	US Department of Defense
Commanders
DoD DVIDS Program Manager	Scott M Betts

Operations

A network of portable Ku-band satellite transmitters and IP video encoders connected to its 24/7 Cloud Network Operations Center, feed DVIDS with PR and combat content, including live video feeds.^[2] DVIDS broadcasts videos, photographs, podcasts, audio, webcasts, interviews, and print products (e.g., publications).^[3][4][5]

The service currently uses cutting edge cloud technologies and operates 100% from the cloud with government code integrated with IAAS (Infrastructure as a Service) It operates DefenseTV, a military television over the top box app accessed through FireTV, Chromecast or Roku,^[6][7] and offers the Military 24/7 mobile app, which delivers news, video, and photos supplied directly by deployed service members.^[8] It maintains the DoD archive for worldwide operations.

Scott Betts leads the Department of Defense DVIDS program via Defense Media Activity, at Fort Meade, Maryland.^[9]

A photo removed from DVIDS showing Command Master Chief Nancy Estrada speaking at a LGBT Pride Month celebration

In 2025, DVIDS took down all "news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)."^[10][11][12] A previous mass removal was done in 2021 to protect Afghans.^[13]

See also

• Public relations