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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 (which do not have identical schedules to their U.S. counterpart) have launched in European markets such as Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
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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 an edgier rival channel called HA! After two years of limited distribution, the two channels merged into one, relaunching on April Fool\'s Day 1991 as CTV: The Comedy Network. (Name change to Comedy Central within a few months of launch due to a lawsuit with CTV in Canada)[1] Viacom bought out Time Warner\'s half in April 2003 for $1.23 billion. Viacom buys Comedy Central. CNN.com. Reuters (2003-04-22). Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
From the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, much of the programming on Comedy Central, and its predecessors, consisted of comedy movies, sitcom re-runs and 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 (with the introduction of Jon Stewart). Dr. Katz was also a notable original program from this era.
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.Carter, Bill. MEDIA: BROADCASTING; Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit (Part 2 of 2). The New York Times: Nov. 10, 1997. 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.
In 2002, Comedy Central Records was formed as a means of releasing albums by comedians that have appeared on the network.
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 Drew Carey, Jerry Stiller, Rob Reiner, Hugh Hefner, Chevy Chase, Denis Leary, Jeff FoxworthyComedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy, Pamela AndersonComedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson, William ShatnerRoast of Shatner, and Flavor Flav.Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav official site
The success of South Park, despite its mature content, encouraged the network to continue to push the limits on adult language. Every Friday and Saturday 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 the South Park movie). 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.
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 infamously backed out of the anticipated third season of Chappelle\'s ShowComedy Central to air Chappelle remainders - MSNBC - Dec. 12, 2005; 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 comic strips depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The image of Muhammad did not appear in the episode. On April 13, 2006, Comedy Central issued a statementhttp://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/04/13/165631-south-park-creators-skewer-own-network 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."
On October 19, 2006, MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central in Poland. The channel contains 34 series and 3 shows from USA, Canada, and Europe (for example Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, Drawn Together, The King of Queens, Desperate Housewives, The Daily Show, Lemon Popsicle) and 4 programs from Poland (Kookły, Hu jak humor, Było sobie porno, Włatcy móch"). On Friday and Saturday the channel broadcasts films.
On Monday January 15, 2007, MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central in Germany. It is the first 24 hour German-speaking comedy channel 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.Tzortzis, Andreas (2007-02-18). Comedy Central plays to a German sense of humor. iht.com. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-08-03. 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.Dutch launch for Comedy Central And on May 1, 2007 the channel has launched in Italy replacing Paramount Comedy.http://www.broadcastclub.co.uk/sateuropa_forum/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=318
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.CTV Strikes Multi-Platform Content Deal With Comedy Central, CTV press release, June 27, 2007
On January 9, 2008, it was announced the Comedy Central and MTV would put programs online for free starting in February.Jones, K.C. (2008-01-09). Free MTV And Comedy Central Online. Information Week. Retrieved on 2008-01-09. On January 24, Scott Landsman became the Vice President of Original Programming and Development at the network.Eggerton, John (2007-01-24). Landsman Gets VP Stripes at Comedy Central. Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
Comedy Central has been a frequent target of criticism from the conservative media watchdog group Parents Television Council, which accuses them of bigotry and blasphemyBozell, L. Brent III (2005-12-22). Comedy Central\'s War on Christmas. CNS News. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.Parents Television Council (2007-03-09). "Comedy Central Shows God in One-Night Stand". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-08-01., especially within the programs South Park, The Sarah Silverman Program, Halfway Home, and the annual "Roast" special.Bozell, L. Brent III (2006-08-24). Roasting the Final Frontier. MRC.org. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. 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 toIsett, Dan (2007-06-14). Remarks Presented by Dan Isett of the PTC at the News Conference Regarding the "Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007". Parents Television Council. Retrieved on 2007-08-01., and to persuade advertisers to stop advertising on the channel.Bozell, L. Brent III (2005-09-06). Letter to Advertisers Concerning their Sponsorship of the August 16th Roast of Pamela Anderson on Comedy Central. Parents Television Council. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. 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.Bozell, L. Brent III (2006-03-24). The Arrested Adolescent\'s Channel. CNS News. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. The channel has also received criticism from certain parentsParents Television Council - Letters to the Editor - Offensive Ads and feministsPetition to Stop Pornographic Ads on Mainstream TV 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 letterVideoSifts open letter to Comedy Central and Viacom was written by Videosift to publicly protest the blocking of Comedy Centrals embedded video content for non US based viewers.
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