Comedy Central
CountryIndia
Broadcast areaIndia
Sri Lanka
Nepal
Bangladesh
Maldives
HeadquartersMumbai, India
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerViacom 18
Sister channelsColors Infinity
MTV
VH1
Nickelodeon
Sonic
History
Launched23 January 2012 (2012-01-23)
Links
Websitecomedycentral.in

Comedy Central is an Indian pay television channel owned by Viacom18. The channel is geared for mature audiences and carries comedy programming in the form of both original and syndicated series, as well as stand-up comedy specials.

Despite the name, it mainly airs series from Warner Bros. Television while Comedy Central originals are rarely aired. It also continues to use the 2011 logo of Comedy Central.

History

Comedy Central launched in India on 23 January 2012, the product of a joint venture between Viacom and TV18.[1] To promote the then new channel and nudge viewers its way the group organised a live event featuring British comedian Russell Brand who performed in a three-city tour of New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, the biggest markets for English programming in India.[2]

The channel was rebranded in 2015 with a new look, exclusively made for the Indian version of Comedy Central and a new slogan.[3]

Comedy Central HD

Comedy Central HD was launched on 1 July 2015 to provide the 1080i HDTV simultaneous feed

Broadcast ban

Comedy Central was prohibited from broadcasting in India for 10 days, from 25 May until 4 June 2012, after an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting found that two of its shows that aired in 2012, carried "obscene dialogues and vulgar words" that "offend good taste", violating several provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. The provisions of the law include "no programme should be carried in the cable service which offends against good taste or decency; no programme should be carried which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths". It also states that "no programme should be carried which denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of woman, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent or derogatory to women or is likely to injure the public morality".[4] The incidents in question involved an episode of Stand Up Club where an unnamed stand-up performed an act with "obscene dialogues and vulgar words derogatory to women" aired on 26 May 2012, and an episode of the French hidden camera prank show PopCorn TV aired on 4 July 2012, where one of the crew members was shown standing opposite a wall, in a shop holding a pair of fake legs against his thighs in his hands and making suggestive movements similar to having sex.[5] Comedy Central apologised for the broadcast, blaming it on an "unintentional genuine error".[6]

The network appealed the ban in the Delhi High Court, but a single judge bench upheld the ban stating that the penalty prohibiting the broadcast of the channel for 10 days could not be considered as "excessive, harsh or unreasonable".[4]

Viewers were presented with a simple black screen for the duration of the ban. The ministry's decision to directly issue a show-cause notice and, later, order a blackout raised serious concern in the Indian broadcasting industry.[7] Most reactions on social media saw the government's move as "extreme and draconian".[8] Critics felt that the government had used the vague framing of the Constitution to censor Internet material, threatening India's democratic traditions.[9]

Programming

Current programming

Former programming

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Comedy Central now in India". Hindustan Times. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Dilip, Mangala. "Russell Brand Returns to India after 2010 Wedding with Katy Perry; Book Tickets for Chuckle Festival". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Malvania, Urvi (9 September 2015). "Comedy Central gets a makeover". Business Standard India. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Delhi HC upholds ban on Comedy Central". Dnaindia.com. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "HC stays 10-day ban on Comedy Central's transmission". Dnaindia.com. PTI. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Uh Oh! US Network Comedy Central 'Temporarily Shut Down in India After Broadcasting Obscene Jokes'". Entertainmentwise. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Not funny: Comedy Central channel banned for 10 days for offending good taste". India Today. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Jha, Prashant (26 May 2013). "Comedy Central banned for 10 days". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Indian Court Lifts Ban on Comedy Central". Online.wsj.com. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Comedy Central records highest ever rating". Indian Television. 5 April 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "Viacom18 to premiere Comedy Central on 23 January". 18 January 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central makes its way to India today". Times of India. 23 January 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central launches 7 new shows this June". 4 June 2012.
  14. 1 2 "Laugh it off with Comedy Central's new summer line-up".
  15. ↑ "Alex, Inc.': Beginning of the end". The Hindu. 17 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "Friends most watched English show on Indian TV in January–June". 11 July 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "November line-up on Comedy Central". 9 November 2016.
  18. ↑ "'AP Bio' Gets Cancelled After Two Seasons". India Forums. 26 May 2019.
  19. ↑ "Archer' Makes Comedy Central Premiere March 2". 29 March 2018.
  20. 1 2 "Comedy Central to launch 3 new shows". 5 April 2013.
  21. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central announces its new year line up with four new shows". Indian Television. 15 January 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central, 'Your Happy Place', to get happier with its October line-up". 5 October 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central revamps". Indian Television. 10 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Comedy Central and Colors Infinity rejuvenate primetime for viewers of English entertainment". Indian Television. 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019.
  25. 1 2 "Comedy Central to light up Diwali with four new shows". Adgully. 22 October 2014.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Two new shows to raise the laughter level on Comedy Central this month". Indian Television. 4 March 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Get ready to 'Watch With The World' on Comedy Central". Indian Television. 28 September 2019.
  28. 1 2 "All for a good telly laugh!". The Hindu. 7 March 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central with a fresh line-up that celebrates colors, girl power and happiness!". Adgully. 6 March 2017.
  30. ↑ "Comedy Central to launch homegrown show 'Challenge Accepted;' Cyrus Sahukar to host". Indian Television. 14 January 2016.
  31. ↑ "MUMBAI: Comedy Central India presents Citizen Khan". Indian Television. 10 July 2013.
  32. 1 2 "June fresh Lineup". Indian Television. 2 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "'Awkward' and 'Complete Savages' add to LOL moments on Comedy Central". 19 March 2014.
  34. 1 2 "COMEDY CENTRAL'S LAUGHTER RIOT". Indian Television. 3 May 2013.
  35. ↑ "Comedy Central brings new comedy show Dr. Doogie Howser M.D." 25 June 2012.
  36. 1 2 "Comedy Central exciting line-up for May". Indian Television. 11 May 2017.
  37. 1 2 "Comedy Central's Summer Chills and other new shows". 4 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "Comedy Central launches 'Everybody Loves Raymond'". 8 January 2013.
  39. ↑ "Comedy Central gives more reasons to 'laugh it off' this festive season". 18 December 2013.
  40. ↑ "Comedy Central lines up fun riots with 'Go On' and 'Suits' Season 2". 31 May 2013.
  41. 1 2 3 4 "Comedy Central to air five new series in July". Indian Television. 3 July 2017.
  42. 1 2 "Comedy Central brings bouquet of new shows this February". 6 February 2018.
  43. ↑ "Comedy Central brings another sitcom 'Greek'". 24 May 2014.
  44. ↑ "Comedy Central to celebrate Children's Day". 11 November 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  45. 1 2 "Comedy Central adds more laughter in primetime". 2 July 2013.
  46. 1 2 3 "Get ready for a primetime filled with laughter this August only on Comedy Central". 30 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  47. 1 2 "This festive season, Comedy Central brings a fun-filled roller coaster ride". Adgully. 28 September 2018.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Comedy Central enters April with interesting line-up". Indian Television. 31 March 2017.
  49. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central set to add love, laughter and madness this Valentine's month". 11 February 2014.
  50. 1 2 3 "Comedy Central to launch 9 new primetime shows in May". 4 April 2014.
  51. ↑ "Amy Schumer's unique road to becoming an A-list comedy star".
  52. ↑ "Comedy Central to air entire Season 1 of 'Playing House' on May 10".
  53. ↑ "Comedy Central launches epic American comedy series Scrubs". 17 July 2012.
  54. ↑ "Here are all your favorite TV shows that are coming back for another season". Business Insider. 28 April 2017.
  55. ↑ "'That 70s Show' just another American comedy? Definitely not". DNA. 23 March 2012.
  56. ↑ "Comedy Central brings comedy drama 'Ugly Betty'". 17 January 2013.
  57. ↑ "Comedy Central launches new show 'Web Therapy'". 30 January 2013.
  58. 1 2 "WILL & GRACE AND OTHER TV SHOWS THAT RESURRECTED AFTER YEARS". FHM.
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