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The Comedy Channel

From Alfawiki
The Comedy Channel
Company typePay television channel
IndustryTelevision broadcasting
Founded1996
Defunct1 September 2020
Headquarters
Australia
Area served
Australia
OwnerFoxtel (final majority owner)

The Comedy Channel (branded on-air as comedy) was an Australian pay television service accessible via Foxtel and Optus Television. The channel discontinued its broadcasts on 1 September 2020.

History

Initially established as a collaboration between Artist Services holding 20%, Australis Media with 40%, and Foxtel also at 40%, the channel first launched on the Galaxy platform before becoming available on Foxtel starting 1 August 1996. Following Australis Media's collapse in 1998, Foxtel increased its ownership stake to 80%. By August 2002, Foxtel secured full control by acquiring Artist Services' remaining 20% share.

Between 2006 and 2007, the channel shifted its operations from Sydney to Melbourne, moving into facilities previously used by Fox Footy Channel. Up until the introduction of Comedy Central in 2016, it stood as Australia's only channel solely dedicated to comedy content. Its programming slate included stand-up performances, sitcoms, animated comedy series, sketch shows, comedic films, and talk show formats.

Starting in March 2008, the channel added Adult Swim programming such as Robot Chicken, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, with later additions including Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Boondocks, Moral Orel, and Titan Maximum. Several Adult Swim titles were also released on Region 4 DVDs by Madman Entertainment, broadening the channel's audience reach.

Notable figures featured on the channel included Frank Woodley with Aussie Gold, Tim Ross and Merrick Watts hosting The Merrick & Rosso Show, Cameron Knight leading Stand Up Australia, and H.G. Nelson presenting Comedy Slapdown. Early content showcased John McManus prior to his emergence as Rove McManus.

On 1 April 2010, The Comedy Channel upgraded its broadcast format from standard definition 4:3 aspect ratio to widescreen 16:9 as part of a Foxtel-wide technical enhancement.

Foxtel announced on 31 July 2020 that The Comedy Channel would be discontinued alongside its sister station Fox Hits, with both channels merging into the newly created Fox Comedy. Existing shows were redistributed across Foxtel’s Fox8 and Fox Showcase channels as well as ViacomCBS's free-to-air service 10 Shake.

Current lineup

In-house productions

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

Syndicated shows

Original productions

Acquired content

References

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