Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, formerly the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, is an operation supported by the Defense Media Activity. 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.

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. DVIDS broadcasts videos, photographs, podcasts, audio, webcasts, interviews, and print products.
The service currently uses cloud computing technologies for infrastructure as a service. It operates DefenseTV, a military television over the top box app accessed through FireTV, Chromecast or Roku, and offers the Military 24/7 mobile app, which delivers news, video, and photos supplied directly by deployed service members. 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.
In 2025, DVIDS took down all "news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion." A previous mass removal was done in 2021 to protect Afghans.