Comedy Central Extra
Comedy Central Extra is a European pay television channel that launched in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in 2003. A Dutch version was launched in 2011. In 2012 a version of Comedy Central Extra was launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia (later replaced by Nicktoons),[1][2] in 2013 in Romania (later replaced by Comedy Central) and Bulgaria, in 2014 in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and in 2016 in Albania.
Broadcast area | Ireland Netherlands United Kingdom |
---|---|
Network | Comedy Central |
Programming | |
Picture format | 576i 16:9 SDTV |
Ownership | |
Owner | UK & Ireland Paramount UK Partnership (Paramount British Pictures/Sky Group) Netherlands ViacomCBS Networks EMEAA |
Sister channels | Comedy Central UK Comedy Central NL |
History | |
Launched | 1 September 2003 |
Former names | Paramount Comedy 2 (2003–09) |
Links | |
Website | comedycentral.co.uk comedycentral.ie comedycentral.nl/extra |
Availability | |
Cable | |
Virgin Media (UK) | Channel 182 |
Ziggo (Netherlands) | Channel 124 |
Virgin Media (Ireland) | Channel 134 |
WightFibre (UK) | Channel 116 |
Caiway (Netherlands) | Channel 105 |
DELTA (Netherlands) | Channel 260 |
Kabel Noord (Netherlands) | Channel 210 |
Satellite | |
Sky (UK & Ireland) | Channel 127 |
IPTV | |
TalkTalk TV (UK) | Channel 308 |
BT (UK) | Channel 308 |
KPN (Netherlands) | Channel 71 |
Plusnet (UK) | Channel 308 |
eir Vision (Ireland) | Channel 128 |
Tele2 (Netherlands) | Channel 28 |
T-Mobile (Netherlands) | Channel 187 |
Streaming media | |
TVPlayer | Watch live (UK only) (TVPlayer Plus subscription required) |
Ziggo GO | ZiggoGO.tv (Europe only) |
History
The channel launched as Paramount Comedy 2 in the UK and Ireland on 1 September 2003 on Sky, and followed soon after on 22 September 2003 on Telewest and 15 October 2003 on NTL. The channel was originally a so-called 'timeshift' service, offering programmes from Paramount Comedy at different times. It later started broadcasting some different programming from Paramount, often British.
On 17 February 2009, it was announced that both Paramount Comedy 1 and Paramount Comedy 2 would be re-branded as Comedy Central and Comedy Central Extra on 6 April 2009 at 9 pm.[3] The name change coincided with the launch of a new programming line-up which included new episodes of Two and a Half Men, The Office and South Park.
On 1 November 2011, Comedy Central Extra launched a localised version in the Netherlands through cable operator Ziggo.[4] Followed by KPN on 15 January 2012[5] and UPC Netherlands on 1 April 2012.[6] On 1 August 2012, the channel launched in the Adriatic region: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.[7][8]
Comedy Central Family closed in the Netherlands on 31 May 2018. However, some of its programmes moved to Comedy Central Extra.[9]
On 14 July 2020, Comedy Central Extra closed in the Adriatic region, and is being replaced with a localised version of Nicktoons.
Timeshift service
Within the UK and Ireland, a timeshift service called Comedy Central Extra +1 (formerly Paramount Comedy 2 +1 from 2007 to 2009) was launched on Sky on 5 November 2007. The channel reduced its hours to 7 pm – 6am on 4 August 2008, as Nicktoonsters launched on 18 August 2008. On 2 October 2012, the channel began to run full-time again following the closure of Nicktoons Replay. Coinciding with the closures of MTV OMG, MTV Rocks and Club MTV on 20 July 2020, the timeshift channel also closed as part of this change, along with the timeshifts for MTV and MTV Music.
Programming
Comedy Central Extra currently airs a variety of American comedy in the daytime including Friends and Scrubs.
After 10 pm, the shows are a mix of American and British comedy with shows including Russell Howard's Good News, South Park and The Cleveland Show.
In January 2007, the channel switched from mainly American programmes to classic British programming with shows such as Seinfeld, Cheers and Roseanne being replaced by Bless This House, George & Mildred and The Upper Hand.
In February 2007, the channel had a 'British Classics' season, with such hits as Spitting Image and Monty Python's Flying Circus.
At weekends, the channel used to screen classic British comedy such as The Upper Hand, Bless This House, George and Mildred, Brush Strokes, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Don't Wait Up and Mr. Bean.
See also
References
- Jesse Whittock (31 July 2012). "Comedy Central gives Balkans Extra". C21Media.
- Georg Szalai (31 July 2012). "Viacom to Launch Comedy Central Extra in Adriatic Region". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Neil Wilkes (17 February 2009). "Paramount Comedy to become Comedy Central". Digital Spy.
- Robert Briel (24 October 2011). "Comedy Central Extra debuts on Ziggo". Broadband TV News.
- Jarco Kriek (14 December 2011). "KPN Interactieve TV breidt uit met Comedy Central, BravaNL en Family7". Totaal TV.
- Jarco Kriek (15 February 2012). "Zenderuitbreiding bij UPC". Totaal TV.
- Jesse Whittock (31 July 2012). "Comedy Central gives Balkans Extra". C21Media.
- Georg Szalai (31 July 2012). "Viacom to Launch Comedy Central Extra in Adriatic Region". The Hollywood Reporter.
- "Comedy Central voegt Extra- en Family-zenders samen". TelecomPaper.com. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
External links
- Official website UK
- Official website Ireland
- Official website Netherlands