Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries predominantly comedy programming, both original and syndicated. Since late 2006, local versions of Comedy Central have launched in the European market including in Sweden (Comedy Central Sweden), Poland (Comedy Central Polska), Germany (Comedy Central Deutschland), the Netherlands, Italy (Comedy Central Italia), Hungary, and in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Comedy Central UK). On April 1, 2009, New Zealand received the first localized Comedy Central channel outside of North America and Europe (Comedy Central New Zealand).

History

Creation

In November 1989, Time Warner, owners of HBO, launched The Comedy Channel as the first cable channel devoted exclusively to comedy-based programming. In April 1990, Viacom (who owned MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon) launched a rival channel called Ha! that featured reruns of situation comedies. After two years of limited distribution, the two channels merged into one, relaunching on April Fools' Day 1991 as CTV: The Comedy Network, soon changing its name to Comedy Central.[2] Viacom bought out Time Warner's half in April 2003 for $1.23 billion.[3]

1991–1997

From the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, much of the programming on Comedy Central, and its predecessors, consisted of comedy films, sitcom reruns, half-hour specials and clip shows featuring stand-up comedians. With the exception of the cult favorite Mystery Science Theater 3000, the channel had a relatively small viewership. A notable early success was Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, which after showing promise on Comedy Central was quickly snapped up by the ABC network. Additionally, The Daily Show had got its start with premiere host Craig Kilborn, although it would take a few more years for the show to reach high popularity (and shift toward a focus on political humor) with the introduction of Jon Stewart. Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist was also a notable original program from this era, as well as the game show Win Ben Stein's Money. Successful non-original programming included British shows such as the U.K. edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (predecessor of the U.S. version, featuring much of the same American cast as would later be seen in the U.S.) and the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. Some later seasons of "AbFab", as it was informally known, were partially financed by Comedy Central.

Comedy Central also aired nationwide reruns of Seattle's Almost Live! between 1992 and 1993.

The channel made a breakthrough when South Park premiered in 1997. The first major cable show to carry the TV-MA rating for mature audiences, the show was too controversial to be picked up by a mainstream network.[4] As word of mouth spread, the number of people who requested that Comedy Central be added to their cable systems increased, and the channel became available in over 50% of American homes by 1998.

2002–2003

In 2002, Comedy Central Records was formed as a means of releasing albums by comedians that have appeared on the network. This unit would ultimately be sold to Fox.

Since 2003, Comedy Central has created a tradition of roasting comedians in tradition of the New York Friars Club roasts. During these roasts friends of the roastee, along with comedians, take turns making fun of the roastee, the other roasters and occasionally audience members. So far, the roastees have included Denis Leary, Jeff Foxworthy,[5] Pamela Anderson,[6] William Shatner,[7] Flavor Flav[8]Bob Saget, and Larry the Cable Guy

The success of South Park, despite its mature content, encouraged the network to continue to push the limits on adult language. Every Saturday and Sunday morning at 1 A.M., a movie, comedy special or animated program is shown unedited for language. This is called the Secret Stash. It premiered on July 4, 2003 (with the unedited cable television debut of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut). Though no language is censored on the Secret Stash, most nudity in the programs is still edited out, with the exception of limited nudity allowed in animated programs (such as Drawn Together) and the occasional topless scene.

2004–2006

In late 2004, it was reported that the top four rated shows on Comedy Central, in order, were South Park, Chappelle's Show, The Daily Show, and Reno 911!. Shortly thereafter, Dave Chappelle backed out of the much-anticipated third season of Chappelle's Show.[9] Meanwhile, The Daily Show continued to climb in ratings. In October 2005, on the occasion of a new three-year contract for South Park and the launch of The Colbert Report, it was reported that South Park and The Daily Show were the two highest rated shows on Comedy Central. Comedy Central chief Doug Herzog was reported as saying that he hoped to continue to air new seasons of South Park forever, and that The Colbert Report fulfilled a long-held plan to extend the Daily Show brand.

On April 5, 2006, in a controversial two part episode arc titled "Cartoon Wars Part I" and "Cartoon Wars Part II", South Park touched the issue of the recent Muslim protest over the Danish cartoon drawings depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The image of Muhammad did not appear in the episode. On April 13, 2006, Comedy Central issued a statement[10] which appears to confirm that the network prohibited the show's creators from airing an image of Muhammad. The statement reads, "In light of recent world events, we feel we made the right decision." An anonymous source close to the show indicated that South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were informed of the policy several weeks earlier, and wrote this story arc in protest. This is a significant change of policy for Comedy Central, having allowed South Park to portray an image of Muhammad in an earlier episode, "Super Best Friends." Oddly enough, an image of Muhammad was still briefly visible in the Cartoon Wars episodes' opening credits (the image had been there as a call-back to the Super Best Friends episode).

2007–2009

On Monday January 15, 2007, MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central in Germany which is available for free throughout Europe. The channel airs 33 shows either dubbed in German or subtitled while also airing locally produced shows.[11] As of April 30, Dutch channel The Box has been transformed into the Dutch version of Comedy Central during the primetime and overnight hours timesharing with Nickelodeon.[12] And on May 1, 2007 the channel has launched in Italy replacing Paramount Comedy.[13]

As of June 27, 2007, CTVglobemedia-owned networks CTV and The Comedy Network have exclusive Canadian rights to the entire Comedy Central library of past and current programs on all electronic platforms, under a multi-year agreement with Viacom, expanding on past programming agreements between the two channels. Canadian users attempting to visit Comedy Central websites will also be redirected to The Comedy Network's website. The Canadian channel will keep its own brand name, but the agreement is otherwise very similar to the earlier CTV/Viacom deal for MTV in Canada.[14]

In December 2007, Comedy Central picked up a show hosted by Lewis Black called Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. The show didn't start playing on Comedy Central until March 2008.

On January 9, 2008, it was announced the Comedy Central and MTV would put programs online for free starting in February.[15] On January 24, Scott Landsman became the Vice President of Original Programming and Development at the network.[16]

On the 27th of March, 2008, the Swedish Radio and TV Authority approved an application from Comedy Central regarding being allowed to air television programs in Sweden. The grant allows Comedy Central to broadcast on the terrestrial television network between January 1, 2009, and March 31, 2014, after which a new request must be submitted in order to continue broadcasting.[17] The main Comedy Central network in the United States picked up a remake of The Gong Show hosted by Dave Attell, star of his former self-titled Comedy Central series Insomniac for premiere in July 2008. Another new show called Reality Bites Back premiered after The Gong Show with Dave Attell.

In June 2008, Comedy Central picked up sketch comedy show Important Things with Demetri Martin which began airing in February 2009. [18]

On the 1st of April, 2009, Comedy Central began airing in New Zealand as Channel 010 on SKY Digital.

On the 6th of April, 2009, Paramount Comedy in the UK and Ireland rebranded as Comedy Central.

On April 7, 2009, it was announced Comedy Central will air new stand-up comedy specials starring Christopher Titus, Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco, Jim Breuer, Mitch Fatel and Pete Correale, and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham. [19]

Comedy Central HD

Comedy Central HD is a 1080i high definition simulcast of Comedy Central that launched on January 13, 2009. [20] Cablevision was the first carrier to add it. DirecTV added the HD version on January 21, 2009. Dish Network added the HD version on April 9. 2009. [21] It was also reported that some Cox Cable systems would get it by the end of January 2009. [20] Comedy Central is anticipating that several more providers will add it later in the year. [20]

Currently, original shows that air in HD include The Sarah Silverman Program, and newer episodes of South Park, Comedy Central Presents, Reno 911!, the new series Krod Mandoon and The Flaming Sword of Fire. Some movies and other stand up specials (mostly HBO produced ones) air in HD as well. [20]

The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning network mainstays, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report will initially be upconverted for Comedy Central HD but will be broadcast in native HDTV sometime in the future. [20]

International

Local versions of Comedy Central include:

• Germany
• Italy
• Hungary (2008)
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Sweden (2009)
• Australia (Expected Late 2009, the Comedy Channel will be re-branded as Comedy Central Australia)
• New Zealand (April 1, 2009)
• United Kingdom[22] / Ireland[23] (April 6, 2009)
• Japan (2009)

Criticism

Comedy Central has been a frequent target of criticism from the conservative media watchdog group Parents Television Council, which accuses them of bigotry and blasphemy,[24][25] especially within the programs South Park, The Sarah Silverman Program, Halfway Home, and the annual "Roast" special.[26] In fact, the PTC has used their criticisms against Comedy Central for their support of the Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007, which would allow American cable TV subscribers to choose which channels they subscribe to,[27] and to persuade advertisers to stop advertising on the channel.[28] PTC founder and former president L. Brent Bozell III has called the channel unfunny, claiming the channel has managed "to reach the top of its field in spite of – or, better put, because of – the network's sheer lack of comedic talent" due to the channel's "extensive reliance on shocking or disgusting humor".[29] The channel has also received criticism from certain parents[30] for airing advertisements for "Girls Gone Wild". The channel also airs the least cut version of the popular film Not Another Teen Movie, as well as uncut versions of films such as Coming to America and Dogma.

On November 5, 2007, an open letter[31] was written by VideoSift to protest publicly the blocking of Comedy Central's embedded video content for non U.S. based viewers.

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