The Comedy Channel

Last updated

The Comedy Channel
Comedylogo.png
Country Australia
Headquarters Melbourne
Programming
Language(s) English
Picture format 16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Ownership
Owner Foxtel Networks
Sister channels Foxtel Networks channels
History
Launched30 June 1996 [1]
Closed1 September 2020;2 years ago (1 September 2020)
Replaced by Fox Comedy
Links
Website thecomedychannel.com.au
Availability
Streaming media
Foxtel Go Channel 121

The Comedy Channel (promoted on air as comedy) was an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, and Optus Television. The channel ceased broadcasting on 1 September 2020. [2]

Contents

History

A joint venture between Artist Services (20%), Australis Media (40%), and Foxtel (40%), [3] the channel began broadcasting on the Galaxy platform, and became available on Foxtel on 1 August 1996. [1] After the collapse of Australis in 1998, Foxtel's share of the channel increased to 80%. [3] The channel became fully owned by Foxtel after it purchased Artist Services' (now ITV Studios Australia, formerly Granada Australia) 20% stake in August 2002. [4] [5]

In 2006–2007, the channel moved headquarters from Sydney to Melbourne, into the studios vacated by Fox Footy Channel. [6] Until the launch of Comedy Central in 2016, The Comedy Channel was the only channel in Australia specifically dedicated to comedy around the clock. It primarily features stand-up comedy, sitcoms, animated comedy series, sketch comedy, comedy films, and talk shows.

Comedy Channel personalities include Frank Woodley, who hosts Aussie Gold ; Tim Ross and Merrick Watts, who together host The Merrick & Rosso Show ; Cameron Knight, who amongst other things for the Comedy Channel hosted Stand Up Australia ; and H.G. Nelson, who hosts Comedy Slapdown .

The Comedy Channel transferred from 4:3 to Widescreen 16:9 broadcasting on Thursday 1 April 2010 at 5:30am as part of Foxtel's plan to convert all of its channels to widescreen before the end of 2010. [7]

On 31 July 2020, it was announced that Comedy would cease broadcasting in September, alongside sister network Fox Hits, and both channels merged onto the Fox Hits channel space as Fox Comedy. Its current-day programming was dispersed across Foxtel's Fox8 and Fox Showcase, as well as ViacomCBS' free-to-air 10 Shake. [8]

Programming

Final programming

Original programming

  • Just For Laughs Sydney (2014–present)
  • Melbourne Comedy Festival's Big Three-Oh (2016–present)

Acquired programming

Former programming

Original programming

Acquired programming

Related Research Articles

Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Corporation and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox8</span> Australian television channel

Fox8 is an Australian pay television channel available on Foxtel, and Optus Television's subscription platforms. It is the most watched subscription television channel in Australia and broadcasts the highest rating non-sporting related program or event on subscription television in Australia, Australia's Next Top Model in 2009. A high definition version of the channel, Fox8HD, was launched on the Foxtel and Austar platforms on 15 November 2009.

FOX Arena is an Australian general entertainment cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar, and Optus Television's subscription platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rove McManus</span> Australian comedian and television host

John Henry Michael McManus, better known by the stage name Rove McManus, is an Australian triple Gold Logie award-winning comedian, television and radio presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the eponymous variety show Rove and was also the host of the comedy talk show Rove LA. He is the co-owner of the production company Roving Enterprises with business partner Craig Campbell. He hosts Whovians on the ABC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Television in Australia</span> Overview of television in Australia

Television in Australia began experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with radio stations 3DB and 3UZ, and 2UE in Sydney, using the Radiovision system by Gilbert Miles and Donald McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Brisbane in 1934.

Merrick and Rosso were an Australian comedy duo, composed of Merrick Watts (Merrick) and Tim Ross (Rosso). The duo began in stand up comedy, and first came together when they teamed up for what was intended to be a one-off comedy show in 1996. They are best known for their syndicated radio programs, TV shows, stand up comedy tours, comedy DVDs and books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Ross</span> Australian comedian and radio personality

Timothy Jonathon Ross is an Australian comedian, radio host, writer and television presenter. He began his career performing stand-up comedy with Merrick Watts as part of the duo Merrick and Rosso. He is now better known as the presenter of the ABC shows Streets of Your Town and Designing a Legacy, which reflect his personal enthusiasm for design and architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickelodeon (Australia and New Zealand)</span> Childrens TV channel in Australia and New Zealand

Nickelodeon is an Australian children's pay television channel operated by a joint venture of Foxtel Networks and Paramount Networks UK & Australia. Being a version of the namesake television channel in the United States, the channel broadcasts Nickelodeon's original series, as well as shows from third-party companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Perfect</span> Australian actor and comedian

Eddie Perfect is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, comedian, writer and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SoHo (Australian TV channel)</span> Television channel

SoHo was an Australian pay television channel. Originally launched as FX in 1995 and oriented towards classic programming, it was rebranded as W. and shifted its focus to women's programming on 1 November 2003. Later, on 20 August 2012, it was again rebranded as SoHo and shifted its focus to drama television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV1 (Australian TV channel)</span> Australian subscription television channel

TV1 was an Australian subscription channel. The station closed on 31 December 2013, along with its sister channel SF. It was replaced on 1 January 2014 by TVH!ts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitty Flanagan</span> Australian comedian

Kitty Flanagan is an Australian comedian, writer and actress who works in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has also performed in France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Japan and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal Just For Laughs festival.

Peter Berner is an Australian stand-up comedian, television and radio presenter, cartoonist and painter. He hosted The Einstein Factor and Backberner on ABC Television. He previously hosted the news comedy TV series The B Team with Peter Berner on Sky News Australia.

The Merrick & Rosso Show is an Australian comedy television series which aired on The Comedy Channel, with its first broadcast on 2 October 2008. It was hosted by Tim Ross and Merrick Watts, who were better known as comedy duo Merrick and Rosso. At the time of their broadcast, they also presented a breakfast radio show is broadcast on Nova 96.9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Funny</span> Former Australian television channel

Fox Funny was an Australian pay television channel focused on airing popular American sitcoms from the mid-2000s to present, complementing the 1980s–2005 schedule of sister network Fox Comedy. The channel was closed on 1 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10 Bold</span> Australian TV channel

10 Bold is an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel owned by Network 10. It originally launched on 26 March 2009 as One HD with a focus on broadcasting sports-based programming and events, but rebranded to One in April 2011 to more reality, scripted and adventure-based programming aimed at males between the ages of 25 and 54. As of October 2018, the channel now primarily broadcasts dramatic programming aimed towards viewers 40 and older.

Dave Thornton is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, television and radio presenter. He has performed stand-up comedy throughout Australia, in Edinburgh, Singapore and New York. He has also appeared on Australian television and radio.

DeAnne Smith is a Canadian-American comedian, writer and columnist. They first gained notice as a comedian in 2008 touring their debut full-length solo stand-up show to popular and critical acclaim, culminating in winning the Sydney Comedy Festival's Time Out Best Newcomer Award and a nomination for Best Newcomer in the 2008 Canadian Comedy Awards. Smith has since continued to tour internationally, with shows proving to be both commercial and critical successes. Their shows have seen them nominated for numerous awards, including the Melbourne Comedy Festival's prestigious Barry Award in 2011 and being consistently rated amongst Montreal's Top 10 comedians. In addition to their live solo shows, Smith is also known for appearances on television and radio, most notably on Australia's Good News Week on the Channel 10 network and HBO series Funny As Hell.

References

  1. 1 2 Freeman, Jane; Andrew Conway (30 June 1996). "The Joke Stops Here". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, Australia. p. 2. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  2. Perry, Kevin (31 July 2020). "The Comedy Channel Becomes Latest Iconic Name To Depart From Foxtel". TV BlackBox. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 Schulze, Jane (28 July 1998). "Foxtel takes more of comedy TV". The Age . Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 5. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  4. Lee Lewes, Jacqueline (23 August 2002). "Burrells returns to run Foxtel's Comedy Channel". The Hollywood Reporter . 374 (45): 14. ISSN   0018-3660.
  5. Idato, Michael (19 August 2002). "Switched on". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  6. Ricketson, Matthew (29 November 2006). "Foxtel handballs Comedy Channel to Melbourne". The Age . Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 3. ISSN   0312-6307 . Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  7. Knox, David (15 March 2010). "Comedy Channel goin' widescreen, no foolin'". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  8. Perry, Kevin (31 July 2020). "THE COMEDY CHANNEL BECOMES LATEST ICONIC NAME TO DEPART FROM FOXTEL". tvblackbox.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. Knox, David (24 November 2016). "Airdate:Brexit at Tiffanys: The Best of the Edinburgh Fest". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 December 2016. The two-hour special was filmed and commissioned by Foxtel.