Comedy Central (British TV channel)
SDTV feed) | |
Timeshift service | Comedy Central +1 |
---|---|
Ownership | |
Owner | Paramount UK Partnership (Paramount Pictures UK/Sky Group/Paramount Networks UK & Australia) |
Sister channels | Comedy Central Extra |
History | |
Launched | 1 November 1995 |
Former names | The Paramount Channel (1995–97) Paramount Comedy Channel (1997–2002) Paramount Comedy (2002–2005) Paramount Comedy 1 (2005–2009) |
Links | |
Website | comedycentral.co.uk comedycentral.ie |
Comedy Central is a British pay television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated. This channel is specific to audiences within the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel is aligned with the original US version of the channel. The channel started as The Paramount Channel in 1995, before rebranding as the Paramount Comedy Channel in 1997 and again as Paramount Comedy 1 in 2004 before finally becoming Comedy Central on 6 April 2009.
History
1995–1997
The channel was launched as The Paramount Channel on 1 November 1995. The original schedule was a mixture of comedy and drama, including such eclectic offerings as
1997–2009
In February 1997, the Paramount Channel became the Paramount Comedy Channel, a channel dedicated solely to comedy.[1]
With expansion of
2009–present
On 17 February 2009, it was confirmed that Paramount Comedy 1 would become Comedy Central from 6 April 2009 in the UK and Ireland.
Subsidiary channels
After no longer having to timeshare with Nickelodeon, the station increased its broadcasting hours, and was joined by Paramount Comedy 2 (later rebranded as Comedy Central Extra) on 1 September 2003.
A one-hour timeshift, Paramount Comedy 1 +1 (now Comedy Central +1) was launched on
A high-definition version, Comedy Central HD, launched on 9 August 2010 on Sky channel 222.[4] On 1 September 2010 the channel also became available on Virgin Media channel 133.[5] Comedy Central HD broadcasts high-definition programming including Two and a Half Men, 30 Rock, and South Park, in addition to new UK commissions. Virgin Media will also make some popular Comedy Central HD programmes available on demand.
A second timeshift, Paramount Comedy 2 +1 (now Comedy Central Extra +1) was launched on Sky channel 159, on 5 November 2007.
Availability in Ireland
Comedy Central has an alternative Irish feed of the same channel available on Sky Ireland, Virgin Media Ireland, Vodafone TV, and Eir. The feed launched in May 2006, advertising on this channel is overseen by Sky Media Ireland. The domain name comedycentral.ie also redirects to comedycentral.co.uk. An additional Irish commercial feed of the time-shift service, Comedy Central +1, was also launched shortly after the parent channel's re-branding on 6 April 2009. On 31 July 2019, Comedy Central Ireland +1 ceased broadcasting.[6]
From 31 March 2019, Comedy Central and Comedy Central Extra's Irish broadcasting licence is registered within the Czech Republic.[7]
Programming
Original programming
In October 2011,
In May 2012, it was announced that Comedy Central was to make a major push into original comedy content, with more than 20 new projects at various stages of development, and 10 scripts already ordered. Programming executive Sarah Farrell told trade magazine Broadcast, "This time next year, we will be doing as many of those projects as we possibly can. We are looking for things that are big, broad and accessible, with the laugh-out-loud factor that comes from big jokes and set pieces." She also noted that they are now "fully committed to the plans."[9]
The process was being micro-managed by Paramount bosses in New York, but with the announcement of such projects and Threesome's success, UK executives have been given greater control. Farrell also indicated that if the already commissioned second series of Threesome is popular, then "a third run could be up to 22 episodes in length."[9]
As of May 2012[update], details about most of the new projects are not publicly available, though the magazine Broadcast reported minor details of a proposed single-camera sitcom about a graduate who moves back in with his parents. A pilot episode of
Comedy Central's move into original productions did not come without problems, as it was announced in April 2012 that Pete Thornton, the channel's comedy commissioner, had resigned to return to the
Alongside the other VIMN (Viacom International Media Networks) networks in the UK, Comedy Central, fuelled by the purchase of Channel 5, there has been an announcement to open a production studio [10] to make programming for Comedy Central and other channels.
It was announced in 2016 that Comedy Central and Channel X had greenlit a new prank comedy reality show presented and starting YouTuber Ben Phillips and his friends. The new series, titled Ben Phillips Blows Up, the channel announced there would be a 22-minute pilot episode due to be released in 2017 on Comedy Central. A full series would happen if the show is well received.[11]
In 2021, Comedy Central UK ordered three new shows for the network including quiz show Fact Off and panel show The Complaints Department.
On 29 September 2021, Fact Off debuted on the channel at 9pm, under the new name of Rob Beckett's Undeniable,[28][29][30] with Joe Swash, Kae Kurd, Angela Barnes and Ivo Graham, the first guests of the new series.[31]
Marathons
The channel frequently airs weekend marathons which consist of one or two shows being on-air for the majority of the day. They often contain loose themes and are on occasion sponsored, such as the "He Ain't Funny, He's My Brother" marathon which ran on the night of 24 November 2007. This night consisted of episodes from shows with a strong brother relationship theme and was sponsored by the film The Darjeeling Limited to promote its nationwide release.
Movies
Comedy Central also broadcasts comedy, animation or action films, including
The channel has begun showing movies on a regular basis, typically from 10:00 pm onwards.
In 2016, Comedy Central introduced a new service called Thursday Night Movies, in which a movie is broadcast on Comedy Central every Thursday, usually at about 9:00pm.[32]
Picture format
Until late 2011, Comedy Central and Comedy Central Extra continued to air in
See also
- Comedy Central Extra, sister channel
- List of programmes broadcast by Comedy Central (British TV channel)
References
- ^ "Paramount cuts its Leo Burnett links as it prepares revamp". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Paramount to expand from 4 Feb". The Airwaves. 17 December 2000. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- ^ Wilkes, Neil (17 February 2009). "Paramount Comedy to become Comedy Central". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "MTV confirms Comedy Central HD launch". Digital Spy. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Comedy Central HD to launch on Virgin Media". Virgin Media. 5 August 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sky - Sign in". skyid.sky.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ https://www.rrtv.cz/files/lic/l1077570.pdf Archived 8 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Comedy Central UK orders 'Threesome'". Digital Spy. 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Comedy Central pushing further original UK projects". British Comedy Guide. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ "5production.com". Channel 5. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Central pilots Facebook prank show". Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "THE COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT: COMEDY CENTRAL ANNOUNCE NEW PANEL SHOW". TVZoneUK. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Comedy Central UK orders unscripted trio". Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Bennett, Steve. "Comedy Central orders more entertainment formats : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Regan, Chelsea (10 May 2021). "Comedy Central UK Orders Three New Titles". Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Comedy Central UK brings the laughs with three new commissions". TBI Vision. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Three New Comedies For Comedy Central UK". Beyond The Joke. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "PREVIEW: Yesterday, Today And The Day Before, Comedy Central". TVZoneUK. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Comedians Sophie Duker and Kemah Bob quit all-female panel show Yesterday, Today And The Day Before over 'unacceptable interference'". 27 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy (27 May 2021). "Comedians quit Yesterday, Today & The Day Before in Palestine protest". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Farber2021-05-27T12:40:00, Alex. "Comedy Central hosts step down amid censorship row". Broadcast. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Shows". Comedy Central UK. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "RHOD GILBERT'S GROWING PAINS RENEWED FOR SECOND SERIES ON COMEDY CENTRAL". TVZoneUK. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (10 July 2020). "'Game Night' Moves From Channel 5 To Comedy Central As Ben Frow Makes Mark In Expanded ViacomCBS Role". Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Comedy Game Night". Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Comedy Game Night | Comedy Central". Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021 – via www.comedycentral.co.uk.
- ^ "Guessable? | Comedy Central". Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021 – via www.comedycentral.co.uk.
- ^ "Tv Quickfire: Five minutes with… comedian Rob Beckett". 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Rob Beckett's Undeniable Season 1". Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Rob Beckett to Present New Panel Show 'Undeniable' on Comedy Central". 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ Radio Times 25 September - 1 October 2021, page 101
- ^ "Thursday Night Movies". Comedy Central UK. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016.