The Comedy Network
Encyclopedia
The Comedy Network a Canadian
English language
Category A specialty channel
owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy
programming.
The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East (Eastern Time
) and West (Pacific Time
).
, Astral Broadcasting
, and Les Films Rozon inc.) was granted a television broadcasting licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for the Comedy Network.
Through various acquisitions over the years, Shaw, Astral, and Les Films Rozon sold their interest in the service to Baton, which became Bell Globemedia in 2001, later renamed CTVglobemedia in 2007, and Bell Media in 2011 following Bell Canada
's acquistion of CTVgm. (see CTVglobemedia
and Bell Media for history of Baton ownership).
The channel was launched on October 17, 1997. The network was launched with the slogan Time Well Wasted, a variation of the U.S.-based channel A&E
's slogan "Time Well Spent". The slogan was used until the network's overhaul on November 1, 2011.
The Comedy Network maintained a consistent look since its incarnation in 1997. The 'yellow oval' logo (which has undergone slight modifications throughout its use) was in use since the network's launch in 1997 until November 1, 2011 when the Comedy Network was relaunched with a new look, consisting a new simplified logo and new on-air presentation.
series, reality TV series, talk shows, stand-up comedy programs, animation
, and more.
The Comedy Network, since it beginnings, has had a long-held relationship with its American counterpart, Comedy Central
. The Comedy Network has often acted as a forum to broadcast many Comedy Central programming in Canada. This relationship was strengthened in June 2007 when the Comedy Network's parent company announced a deal with Comedy Central for exclusive Canadian rights to the entire Comedy Central library of past and present programs on all electronic platforms, under a multi-year agreement with Viacom
.
, Odd Job Jack
, and Kevin Spencer
developed cult followings with loyal fan bases. Several original programs including Puppets Who Kill, Comedy Now!
, and The Gavin Crawford Show
have won Canadian Comedy Awards
, and several shows produced in partnership with the parent network CTV
have also been quite successful, including Corner Gas
s Canadian Comedy Award wins, six Gemini Award
wins, seven Leo Award wins and an International Emmy nomination.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Category A specialty channel
Specialty channel
A specialty channel can be a commercial broadcasting or non-commercial television channel which consists of television programming focused on a single genre, subject or targeted television market at a specific demographic....
owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
programming.
The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East (Eastern Time
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) and West (Pacific Time
Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
).
History
In September 1996, 1155636 Ontario Inc. (a company majority controlled by Baton Broadcasting, with the remaining interests held by Shaw CableShaw Communications
Shaw Communications is Canada's largest telecommunications company that provides telephone, Canada's fastest Internet and television services as well as broadcasting and soon Wifi. Shaw is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta...
, Astral Broadcasting
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
, and Les Films Rozon inc.) was granted a television broadcasting licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for the Comedy Network.
Through various acquisitions over the years, Shaw, Astral, and Les Films Rozon sold their interest in the service to Baton, which became Bell Globemedia in 2001, later renamed CTVglobemedia in 2007, and Bell Media in 2011 following Bell Canada
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
's acquistion of CTVgm. (see CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia , was one of Canada's largest private media companies. Its operations include newspaper publishing , television broadcasting and production , radio broadcasting , and their respective Internet properties.Originally established by BCE and the Thomson family in 2001 combining CTV Inc.,...
and Bell Media for history of Baton ownership).
The channel was launched on October 17, 1997. The network was launched with the slogan Time Well Wasted, a variation of the U.S.-based channel A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
's slogan "Time Well Spent". The slogan was used until the network's overhaul on November 1, 2011.
The Comedy Network maintained a consistent look since its incarnation in 1997. The 'yellow oval' logo (which has undergone slight modifications throughout its use) was in use since the network's launch in 1997 until November 1, 2011 when the Comedy Network was relaunched with a new look, consisting a new simplified logo and new on-air presentation.
Logos
 |
|
|---|---|
| 1997-2011 | 2011–present |
Programming
The Comedy Network airs a variety of comedy-related programming including sitcoms, sketch comedySketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
series, reality TV series, talk shows, stand-up comedy programs, animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, and more.
The Comedy Network, since it beginnings, has had a long-held relationship with its American counterpart, Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
. The Comedy Network has often acted as a forum to broadcast many Comedy Central programming in Canada. This relationship was strengthened in June 2007 when the Comedy Network's parent company announced a deal with Comedy Central for exclusive Canadian rights to the entire Comedy Central library of past and present programs on all electronic platforms, under a multi-year agreement with Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
.
Successes and awards
Some original Comedy Network shows like Puppets Who KillPuppets Who Kill
Puppets Who Kill is a Canadian television comedy programme co-produced by The Comedy Network. It premiered in Canada on the Comedy Network in 2002, and in Australia on The Comedy Channel in 2004....
, Odd Job Jack
Odd Job Jack
Odd Job Jack was a Canadian animated comedy television show featuring Don McKellar, about one man's misadventures in temporary employment. Seen on and produced for the The Comedy Network, a cable specialty channel, and shown on Adult Swim in Latin America, the show is currently finished its...
, and Kevin Spencer
Kevin Spencer (TV series)
Kevin Spencer is an animated television series developed by Greg Lawrence, aired in Canada on The Comedy Network and aimed at adult audiences. It takes its name from the main character...
developed cult followings with loyal fan bases. Several original programs including Puppets Who Kill, Comedy Now!
Comedy Now!
Comedy Now! is a Canadian comedy television series which debuted in 1997 featuring the newest in Canadian comedic talent. The show has won numerous Gemini Awards as well as many international awards. It is broadcast in Canada on The Comedy Network, CTV and A...
, and The Gavin Crawford Show
The Gavin Crawford Show
The Gavin Crawford Show was a Canadian sketch comedy series that ran from June 19, 2000 to July 1, 2003 on The Comedy Network.The show starred comedian Gavin Crawford, along with an ensemble cast of supporting performers...
have won Canadian Comedy Awards
Canadian Comedy Awards
The Canadian Comedy Awards, founded by , are an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in Live, Radio, Film, Television and Internet media over the previous year...
, and several shows produced in partnership with the parent network CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
have also been quite successful, including Corner Gas
Corner Gas
Corner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
s Canadian Comedy Award wins, six Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
wins, seven Leo Award wins and an International Emmy nomination.