From Paramount Comedy's official websites press area:
PARAMOUNT COMEDY TO BECOME COMEDY CENTRAL
18th February 2009
Paramount Comedy will re-brand as Viacom’s international comedy brand Comedy Central on Monday 6th April 2009.
The decision comes after a year of careful planning and consideration and follows Paramount Comedy’s most successful year to date.
Comedy Central is aimed at men and women 16-34 and offers an incomparable line-up of some of the biggest rating comedies from the US, a strong commitment to top class stand-up and brand new UK commissions.
South Park headlines Comedy Central’s new line-up with brand new season 13. UK viewers will be able to watch new episodes of the topical award-winning animation series within two days of US TX for the first time.
Comedy Central boasts four of the top five comedies from the US including UK exclusive premieres of Emmy Award-winning Two and a Half Men (Charlie Sheen), the US newest big hitter Rules of Engagement starring (David Spade, Just Shoot Me and Patrick Warburton, Family Guy) and The Office (Steve Carell, Forty Year Old Virgin).
Stand-up will form a key part of schedule with big name British stars appearing from launch including Lee Evans, Dara O’Briain, Russell Howard and Alan Carr.
The first lady of comedy’s edgy and controversial show The Sarah Silverman Program is exclusive to Comedy Central with season 2 premiere from launch.
Former Baby Cow Head of New Comedy Sarah Farrell, Director of Content Paramount Comedy, is commissioning new shows for the channel, including a one-off epsiode of Grumpy Young Men, as well as developing a pilot with rising star Jim Jeffries.
Paramount Comedy 2 becomes Comedy Central Extra; a feast of favourites from Comedy Central including opportunities for viewers to familiarise themselves with new series and indulge stacks of well loved shows like South Park and Sex and the City.
Creative agency Karmarama are working with an in-house team headed by VP Marketing and Creative Services Chris Hancox, to produce Comedy Central’s complete look and feel which will use the iconic US logo as the core of the channel’s identity. The on-air creative uses the logo while off-air uses key talent to create mischief around well known UK landmarks.
Comedycentral.co.uk will offer exclusive video content and clips from shows, money can’t buy prizes and comedy gossip powered by Chortle.
Jill Offman, Managing Director, Paramount Comedy said:
“2008 was our best ever year and January 2009 our best ever month, so this is a great time to move to the next level. The re-brand to Comedy Central allows us to reaffirm the channel as the UK’s home of modern comedy, featuring the best current sitcoms, satire, stand-up and for the first time our own brand new UK commissions.”
Comedy Central launches 9pm on Monday 6th April 2009 - with season 6 UK premiere of Two and a Half Men.
For further information please contact Zoe Diver:
Zoe.diver@paramountcomedy.com or call 020 7478 5328
Notes:
Paramount Comedy
• Paramount Comedy is 75% owned by Paramount British Pictures (Viacom), with 25% owned by BskyB
• Paramount Comedy launched in 1995 and Paramount Comedy 2 in 2003 (both have a +1 service)
• The portfolio includes Paramount Comedy mobile and paramountcomedy.com and DTO
• 8.7 million adults watch Paramount Comedy every month
• Top Five US comedies: Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, Samantha Who, The Office and Family Guy.
• 2008 Paramount Comedy achieved highest ever average rating.
Comedy Central
Whether your taste is sharp and satirical, warm hearted and familiar, fast paced and glossy, there is something for everyone on Comedy Central, the UK’s brand new Capital of Comedy.
Comedy Central features an incomparable line up of award-winning comedies, big name British stand-up and brand new UK commissions.
Catch premieres of America’s biggest sitcom Two and a Half Men, new big hitter Rules of Engagement, Steve Carrell’s The Office, The Sarah Silverman Program and for the first time catch brand new episodes of South Park as they TX in the US.
Comedy Central brings you big name stand up from the likes of Chris Rock, Dara O’Briain, Alan Carr, Russell Howard and Lee Evans and UK commissions with rising star Jim Jeffries as well as a special of Grumpy Young Men narrated by Robert Webb.
Sky 126 – Virgin 132 – Tiscali 25
Comedy Central Extra
The channel to indulge in your favourite Comedy Central shows like Rules of Engagement, Everybody Hates Chris, Sex And The City, The Office and South Park with stacks of well loved entertainment.
Sky 128 – Virgin 134 – Tiscali 27
Comedy Central International
For over 15 years, Comedy Central has been the first and only all-comedy network since its 1991 launch in the US. Now a global multimedia brand, Comedy Central brings viewers across the world the very best in comedy programming with seven dedicated channels and eighteen websites across the US, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Comedy Central is home to hit shows such as South Park, Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, and The Sarah Silverman Program as well as locally produced programming featuring home-grown talent. Comedy Central and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc.
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