MTV Networks New Zealand and SKY Television today announce the launch of Comedy Central – NZ’s first 24 hour comedy channel. The premiere comedy network will air 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be seen in almost 50% of NZ households on SKY Digital Channel 10, from April 1 2009.
Comedy Central NZ is set to feature a wide array of original and acquired programming from animation to stand-up, sitcoms to classics with an audience demographic of 18-54. Comedy’s biggest hits including, South Park, The Colbert Report, Reno 911 and Chappelle’s Show are just a few of the quality programs Kiwi audiences can expect. Comedy Central will bring together the best comedy from across the globe and will also launch one of the only dedicated interactive comedy websites in New Zealand feeding in to the Comedy Central international online content hub.
Comedy Central will be the third channel operated locally by MTV Networks Australia and NZ, joining sister MTV Network channel brands MTV and Nickelodeon, already available on the SKY Digital platform.
Chris Keely General Manager for MTV Networks NZ said: “The launch of Comedy Central delivers good news for our NZ viewers and a business growth story which are currently are few and far between. With our platform partner Sky Digital Television we are fortunate to be able to introduce the worlds top comedy brand to the NZ Market for the very first time.”
Former director for the NZ Comedy Festival, Hilary Coe, will be managing the launch of Comedy Central in NZ bringing with her 10 years of local industry experience.
Comedy Central is the world’s only all-comedy network and has an estimated global audience of over 140 million. It is responsible for some of the biggest comedy hits of all time. Comedy Central, now in its 18th year globally, has built a diverse, global business by putting funny first in everything it does. This will be the sixth localized Comedy Central channel to launch in the last two years and joins the portfolio of channels spanning the USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary and Poland. Comedy Central NZ will be the first in Asia Pacific.
“Comedy Central has come along at just the right time’, says SKY’s Director of Entertainment Programming, Travis Dunbar. ‘With all that’s going on in the world, it’s great that SKY subscribers will now have a one-stop destination for humour, irreverence and escape. And if laughter is the best medicine, then I’d prescribe this channel daily!’
Comedy Central launches on the SKY digital platform April 1 2009.
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