Comedy Central (own spelling: COMEDY CENTRAL) is a television station of the US media group Viacom, which mainly broadcasts comedy series and shows.
USA
Comedy Central is an American cable television channel. It was formed at the end of 1990 from the actually competing stations Comedy Channel (from HBO) and HA! (Viacom), after neither channel had been able to assert itself in the market.
Until the premiere of the comic series South Park in 1997, Comedy Central had rather low ratings. Word of mouth increased the number of cable networks that included Comedy Central in their programming, so that by 1998 more than half of US households were able to receive the channel.
In April 2003, MTV’s parent company Viacom acquired the remaining shares of HBO’s parent company Time Warner for USD 1.225 billion.
Germany (German)
Since 15 January 2007 Comedy Central has also been represented in Germany by Comedy Central Deutschland with its own channel. However, the regular 24-hour distribution was discontinued at the end of 2008. Instead, the channel has been shared with the children’s channel Nickelodeon since 15 December 2008. Comedy Central has usually moved to the Nickelodeon airfield and has been broadcasting between 8:15 pm and 5:45 am since then. After Poland, Comedy Central Deutschland also showed Sex and the City as the second Comedy Central station from 14 December 2009. Comedy Central has also been broadcasting in HD since 16 May 2011. From 8 September 2014, Comedy Central started its programme at 5 p.m., between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., the VIVA programme could be seen. In mid-September 2015, the division of VIVA and Comedy Central was reorganized, with VIVA currently broadcasting from 2:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Comedy Central from 2:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Here, too, Viacom is the owner. Comedy Central HD is no longer available via HD+ since October 1, 2014. On 20 June 2018 it was announced that VIVA would be discontinued at the end of 2018 and the additional time would be taken over by Comedy Central. Since 1 January 2019 Comedy Central has been broadcasting 24 hours a day again.
Austria
On 1 January 2011, a regional offshoot of Comedy Central was launched in Austria, whose programme, apart from the commercials, is identical to that in Germany. The offshoot replaced the regional version VIVA Austria on the frequency previously shared with Nickelodeon Austria (6:00 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.). VIVA Austria, for its part, replaced the regional version MTV Austria, which had migrated to pay-TV, on 1 January 2011.From 8 September 2014, Comedy Central also launched its programme in Austria at 5 p.m., with VIVA’s programme being shown between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. In mid-September 2015, the division of VIVA and Comedy Central was reorganised, with VIVA currently broadcasting from 2:00 am to 2:00 pm and Comedy Central from 2:00 pm to 2:00 am. On 20 June 2018, it was announced that VIVA would be discontinued at the end of 2018 and that the additional time would be taken over by Comedy Central. Since 1 January 2019, Comedy Central has been broadcasting 24 hours a day since then. As in Germany, Viacom is also the owner of Comedy Central Austria.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the regional offshoot of Comedy Central Germany started on 16 May 2011. Comedy Central Switzerland’s programme differs from Germany’s, apart from the regional advertising windows, in particular due to the shorter transmission time until 5:00 a.m., due to the start of transmission of Nickelodeon Switzerland (5:00 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.). In fact, the regional version VIVA Switzerland, which was replaced by Comedy Central and whose regional content was transferred to MTV Switzerland in the last 24 months, was dropped. In the Swiss cable networks, MTV Switzerland remains free-to-air, while the former digital programme channel of Comedy Central Germany was replaced by VIVA Germany. In the meantime, a regional version of VIVA has been launched again in Switzerland. From 8 September 2014, Comedy Central also started its programme in Switzerland at 5 p.m., and the VIVA programme was then shown between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.. In mid-September 2015, the division between VIVA and Comedy Central was reorganized, with VIVA currently broadcasting from 2:00 am to 2:00 pm and Comedy Central from 2:00 pm to 2:00 am. On June 20, 2018, it was announced that VIVA would be discontinued at the end of 2018 and the additional time would be taken over by Comedy Central. Since January 1, 2019, Comedy Central has been broadcasting 24 hours a day since then. Here, too, Viacom is the owner.
Great Britain
On 6 April 2009 the British channel Paramount Comedy was renamed Comedy Central UK & Ireland. Paramount Comedy 2 became Comedy Central Extra. The stations are also operated by Viacom.
Italy
Since 1 May 2007, an offshoot of Comedy Central has also been broadcasting in Italy. Previously, Viacom was already represented with the comedy channel Paramount Comedy Italia, but replaced it with Comedy Central. Comedy Central is offered in Italy via the pay-TV channel SKY Italia and is 51% owned by Telecom Italia Media and 49% by Viacom.
The Netherlands
A Dutch version of the US channel has been on air in the Netherlands since 30 April 2007 (from 1 December to 29 April 2007 as The Box Comedy). Here, the channel of the music channel The Box, which was operated by VIVA Media, could be taken over. In the Netherlands, Comedy Central Nederland last broadcast daily between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. and shared the broadcasting space with the Dutch children’s channel Kindernet. Comedy Central has also been broadcasting 24 hours a day in the Netherlands since the Kindernet channel was discontinued. Comedy Central Nederland is 100% owned by Viacom.
Flanders
In Flanders, Comedy Central Vlaanderen started as a programme block on TMF Vlaanderen on 20 January 2014 and was broadcast between 22:00 and 0:00. Since 1 November 2015 Comedy Central has also been broadcasting in Flanders 24 hours a day, TMF Vlaanderen was discontinued without replacement.
Poland
Comedy Central has been on air in Poland since 19 October 2006 and broadcasts a 24-hour programme there. In contrast to other Comedy Central versions, the Polish version also features series such as Desperate Housewives or Sex and the City. Here, too, Viacom is the owner.
Sweden
Comedy Central started in Sweden on 1 January 2009 and shared a slot with the sister station Nickelodeon. They broadcast from 19:00 to 3:00. Since November 1, 2013 the station has been broadcasting around the clock, and until November 15, 2013 it also broadcast on the same frequency as Nickelodeon Sverige. Viacom is also responsible for the station here.
Hungary
On 1 October 2008, a country-specific version of Comedy Central was launched in Hungary. It will be broadcast 24 hours a day. Viacom also assumes responsibility for the station.
Spain
In Spain, Viacom operated a comedy channel under the name Paramount Comedy. Between 6 April 2009 and 1 April 2012, Paramount Comedy Spain was the only offshoot not called Comedy Central. Since 14 May 2014, it has been broadcast in Spain as Comedy Central España and uses the internationally used logo. Viacom is also responsible for the station here.
New Zealand
Comedy Central has existed in New Zealand since 1 April 2009. Here, too, the station is broadcast 24 hours a day and is distributed by Viacom.
Israel
Comedy Central has been in existence in Israel since 1 January 2011. It is the 10th offshoot of Comedy Central at all. The station broadcasts in Hebrew and is distributed by Ananey Communications. In Israel Comedy Central, like Nickelodeon Israel, broadcasts around the clock.
India
Comedy Central was launched in India on 23 January 2012. The station is operated by Viacom 18, a joint venture between Viacom and Network 18. Comedy Central India broadcasts 24 hours a day in English.
Latin America
Comedy Central was launched in Latin America on 1 February 2012. The station is operated by VIMN The Americas. Here, too, the programme is broadcast 24 hours a day.
Brazil
Comedy Central was launched in Brazil on 1 February 2012 and will be broadcast in Portuguese. This channel is also operated by VIMN The Americas. Here, too, the programme is broadcast 24 hours a day.
Russia – Paramount Comedy Россия
In Russia, the channel will be officially launched on April 1, 2012, after a test broadcast had already begun on March 30, 2012. The decision was made against Comedy Central and the channel was launched under the name Paramount Comedy, which was last only used in Spain. Here, too, the programme is broadcast 24 hours a day and distributed by Viacom.
Asia
Comedy Central has been broadcast in Southeast Asia and some regions in the Pacific by VIMN Asia since November 1, 2012. Here, too, the programme is shown 24 hours a day. The channel can be received in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Republic of China (Taiwan), Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Samoa, Mongolia and the Philippines.
Further
Other regions in which Comedy Central broadcasts are Croatia, Serbia and Africa. More information about these offshoots is not known.
Total
Of the 16 versions, Viacom owns 100% of the transmitter in 14 versions. A total of 15 versions are (co-)distributed by Viacom, with the exception of Comedy Central Israel.
Comedy Central Extra
In addition to the main programme, Comedy Central Extra has been in operation in Great Britain and Ireland since 6 April 2009, in the Netherlands since 1 November 2011 and in the Balkan states of Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia since 1 August 2012. In Great Britain, Paramount Comedy 2 was converted into Comedy Central Extra. There is also a timeshift version. The programmes start there an hour later. All offshoots broadcast for 24 hours.
Comedy Central Family
In the Netherlands and Poland there is another station called Comedy Central Family. The offshoot started in the Netherlands on 1 October 2008 and broadcasts 24 hours a day. In Poland, the station initially shared a slot with VH1 Polska. Comedy Central Family Poland has been broadcasting 24 hours a day since 24 April 2012.