History of Comedy Central in Timeline
Comedy Central is a US cable channel owned by Paramount Global that features comedic content. Based in Manhattan, it offers a mix of original, licensed, and syndicated comedy series, stand-up specials, and movies.
November 15, 1989: The Comedy Channel Launches
On November 15, 1989, Time-Life, the owners of HBO, launched The Comedy Channel, marking the debut of the first cable channel dedicated entirely to comedy programming.
April 1, 1990: Viacom Launches Ha!
On April 1, 1990, Viacom, the company behind MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon, launched Ha!, a competing channel to The Comedy Channel. Ha! primarily featured reruns of sitcoms and some original sketch comedy.
1990: The Comedy Channel Programming and Short Attention Span Theater
In 1990, The Comedy Channel typically aired shows where hosts introduced clips from stand-up comedians and classic comedies. During "Short Attention Span Theater" segments, clips were shown without host segments. Jon Stewart, Patty Rosborough, and Marc Maron hosted the series.
April 1, 1991: The Comedy Channel and Ha! Merge, Become CTV: The Comedy Network
After two years of separate existence, The Comedy Channel and Ha! merged on April 1, 1991, relaunching as CTV: The Comedy Network.
June 1, 1991: CTV: The Comedy Network Becomes Comedy Central
On June 1, 1991, CTV: The Comedy Network changed its name to Comedy Central to avoid conflict with the Canadian broadcast television network CTV, which would later become its Canadian content partner through The Comedy Network six years later.
1991: "The Daily Show" Premieres with Craig Kilborn
"The Daily Show" premiered with original host Craig Kilborn.
1991: Previous Comedy Central Logo Design
The 1991 logo of Comedy Central featured a transmitter, an element deemed outdated by the network's management in 2000 as a representation of "the 1950s broadcast era."
1992: Comedy Central Airs "Almost Live!" Reruns
Comedy Central secured the national rights to broadcast reruns of "Almost Live!" from Seattle between 1992 and 1993.
1993: Comedy Central's Run of "Almost Live!" Reruns Ends
Comedy Central's run of airing reruns of "Almost Live!" from Seattle concluded in 1993.
1997: "South Park" Premieres on Comedy Central
"South Park" premiered on Comedy Central in 1997. Despite its controversial content and TV-MA rating, the show became a hit, significantly increasing Comedy Central's viewership.
1998: Comedy Central's Reach Expands Thanks to "South Park"
By 1998, Comedy Central was available in over half of American homes, largely driven by the popularity of "South Park."
1999: Jon Stewart Takes Over "The Daily Show"
Jon Stewart, former co-host of "Short Attention Span Theater," became the host of "The Daily Show" in 1999, leading the show to significant popularity and a focus on political humor.
October 30, 2000: Comedy Central Modernizes Its Logo
Comedy Central introduced a modernized version of its globe logo on October 30, 2000, simplifying the design and removing outdated elements like the transmitter.
2000: Previous Comedy Central Logo Introduced
In 2000, Comedy Central introduced its previous logo, which featured a world-sized "tower" broadcasting the network. This logo was later replaced in 2011.
2002: Comedy Central Records Launches
Comedy Central Records was established in 2002 to release albums by comedians featured on the network.
April 2003: Viacom Buys Out Time Warner's Share of Comedy Central
Initially a partnership between Home Box Office, Inc. (a Time Warner subsidiary) and Viacom Hearty Ha! Ha! LLC, Comedy Partners saw Viacom buying out Time Warner's share in April 2003 for $1.23 billion. Despite HBO's departure, the Viacom Media Networks division responsible for Comedy Central retains the Comedy Partners name.
July 4, 2003: Comedy Central's "Secret Stash" Premieres
On July 4, 2003, Comedy Central launched "Secret Stash," a late-night programming block featuring uncensored movies, comedy specials, and animated shows. The block debuted with the unedited cable premiere of "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut."
2003: Comedy Central Roasts Begin
Beginning in 2003, Comedy Central started a tradition of roasting comedians, inspired by the New York Friars' Club roasts. These events feature friends and fellow comedians playfully mocking the roastee.
2003: Fox Cancels "Futurama"
In 2003, Fox made the decision to cancel "Futurama," which would later be revived by Comedy Central in 2010.
2003: Paramount Comedy 2 Launches
Paramount Comedy 2, which would later become Comedy Central Extra, launched in 2003.
2003: Viacom Obtains Full Ownership of Comedy Central; Warner Home Video's Distribution Deal Ends
Viacom assumed full ownership of Comedy Central in 2003, ending Warner Home Video's role in distributing the network's shows, which they had held since the channel's inception.
2004: "Chappelle's Show" Popularity and Subsequent Cancellation
In 2004, "Chappelle's Show" was one of Comedy Central's top-rated shows. However, Dave Chappelle unexpectedly left the show before the highly anticipated third season.
October 2005: "South Park" and "The Daily Show" Become Top Shows; "The Colbert Report" Launches
By October 2005, "South Park" and "The Daily Show" were the two highest-rated shows on Comedy Central. This period also saw the launch of "The Colbert Report," a spin-off of "The Daily Show."
April 5, 2006: South Park "Cartoon Wars" Controversy
On April 5, 2006, the "South Park" episodes "Cartoon Wars Part I" and "Cartoon Wars Part II" aired, sparking controversy for addressing the protests over cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The episode satirized the controversy without showing the image, and also parodied "Family Guy."
April 13, 2006: Comedy Central Issues Statement on "South Park" Controversy
Following the controversy surrounding the "Cartoon Wars" episodes, on April 13, 2006, Comedy Central issued a statement suggesting they prohibited the depiction of Muhammad in the episodes. This marked a policy shift and sparked debate about censorship.
January 15, 2007: Comedy Central Launches in Germany
On January 15, 2007, MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central in Germany, making it available across Europe. The channel featured a mix of dubbed, subtitled, and locally produced comedy content.
May 1, 2007: Comedy Central Expands to Italy
Comedy Central replaced Paramount Comedy in Italy on May 1, 2007, further expanding its reach in Europe.
June 27, 2007: Comedy Central Partners with CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada
On June 27, 2007, Comedy Central granted exclusive Canadian rights for its content library to CTV and The Comedy Network. This led to Canadian users being redirected to The Comedy Network's website when trying to access Comedy Central content.
November 5, 2007: VideoSift Protests Comedy Central's Blocking of Embedded Videos for Non-U.S. Viewers
On November 5, 2007, VideoSift wrote an open letter to Comedy Central protesting the network's blocking of embedded video content for viewers outside the United States.
December 2007: Comedy Central Greenlights "Lewis Black's Root of All Evil"
Comedy Central picked up "Lewis Black's Root of All Evil" in December 2007. The show, hosted by comedian Lewis Black, premiered in March 2008.
2007: Parents Television Council Criticizes Comedy Central Programming
In 2007, the Parents Television Council criticized Comedy Central's programming for what it deemed mature content, bigotry, and blasphemy.
January 9, 2008: Comedy Central and MTV Announce Free Online Streaming
Starting in February 2008, Comedy Central and MTV began offering free online streaming of their programs, a significant development in content accessibility.
March 2008: "Lewis Black's Root of All Evil" Premieres
"Lewis Black's Root of All Evil", hosted by comedian Lewis Black, premiered on Comedy Central in March 2008 after being picked up by the network in December 2007.
March 27, 2008: Comedy Central Approved for Broadcast in Sweden
On March 27, 2008, Comedy Central received approval to broadcast in Sweden from January 1, 2009, until March 31, 2014, marking its entry into the Swedish television market.
June 2008: Comedy Central Picks Up "Important Things with Demetri Martin"
Comedy Central added the sketch comedy show "Important Things with Demetri Martin" to its lineup in June 2008. The show premiered in February 2009.
July 2008: Comedy Central Revives "The Gong Show"
Comedy Central launched a revival of "The Gong Show" hosted by Dave Attell in July 2008, bringing back the classic talent show format.
2008: Comedy Central Family Netherlands Launch
Comedy Central Family first launched in the Netherlands in 2008.
February 2009: "Important Things with Demetri Martin" Premieres
Following its announcement in June 2008, "Important Things with Demetri Martin" debuted on Comedy Central in February 2009, showcasing Demetri Martin's unique comedic style.
April 1, 2009: Comedy Central Launches in New Zealand
Comedy Central expanded its global presence by launching in New Zealand on April 1, 2009, becoming available on SKY Digital.
April 7, 2009: Comedy Central Announces New Stand-Up Specials and Animated Show
Comedy Central expanded its comedy offerings with new stand-up specials featuring comedians such as Christopher Titus, Gabriel Iglesias, and Pablo Francisco in 2009. The network also picked up the animated show "Ugly Americans."
2009: Comedy Central Premieres "Tosh.0"
"Tosh.0," hosted by comedian Daniel Tosh, premiered on Comedy Central in 2009, capitalizing on the growing popularity of internet viral videos.
2009: Comedy Central Launches HD Simulcast Feed
Comedy Central launched a 1080i high definition simulcast feed in 2009, available on major cable and satellite providers.
2009: Paramount Comedy 2 Becomes Comedy Central Extra
Paramount Comedy 2 was renamed to Comedy Central Extra in 2009.
April 2010: "South Park" Reignites Controversy with Muhammad Depiction
In April 2010, "South Park" revisited the depiction of Muhammad in episodes "200" and "201," leading to further controversy and censorship from Comedy Central. The creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, publicly criticized the network's decision.
April 21, 2010: Comedy Central Censors "South Park" Episode "201" After Death Threats
On April 21, 2010, Comedy Central heavily censored the "South Park" episode "201" after users of a radical Muslim website issued death threats over the episode's depiction of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
December 9, 2010: Comedy Central Unveils New Logo
Comedy Central announced a new logo on December 9, 2010, featuring a simplified design with two "C"s. The logo aimed to represent the network's comedic identity and adaptability across platforms.
2010: Comedy Central Revives "Futurama"
After its cancellation by Fox in 2003, Comedy Central brought back "Futurama" with new episodes starting in 2010.
2010: Comedy Central Family Poland Launch
Comedy Central Family launched in Poland as a block on VH1 Poland in 2010.
2010: Polsat Comedy Central Extra Launches as Programming Block
Polsat Comedy Central Extra, a Polish secondary channel of Comedy Central Poland, launched in 2010 as a programming block on VH1 Poland.
January 1, 2011: Comedy Central Officially Launches New Logo
On January 1, 2011, Comedy Central's redesigned logo made its official debut, replacing the previous "tower" theme with a more modern and versatile design.
February 20, 2011: Polish Version of Comedy Central Adopts New Logo
Comedy Central's Polish channel became the first international version to adopt the new logo on February 20, 2011, marking the global rollout of the redesigned branding.
April 1, 2011: Hungarian Comedy Central Adopts New Logo
Following the Polish channel's adoption in February, Comedy Central's Hungarian version implemented the new logo on April 1, 2011.
October 1, 2011: German and Dutch Comedy Central Channels Adopt New Logo
On October 1, 2011, Comedy Central's channels in Germany and the Netherlands transitioned to the new logo, further solidifying the global branding change.
2011: Comedy Central Extra Launches in the Netherlands
Comedy Central Extra launched in the Netherlands in 2011.
2011: Comedy Central Family Replaces VH1 Poland
Comedy Central Family replaced VH1 Poland in 2011 but VH1 Poland continued to broadcast as a nighttime programming block.
2011: Comedy Central Reaches Peak Viewership
In 2011, Comedy Central reached its highest viewership, with approximately 99,000,000 pay television households in the United States having access to the channel.
2011: Polsat Comedy Central Extra Launches as Channel
In 2011, Polsat Comedy Central Extra launched as a channel.
January 23, 2012: Comedy Central Launches in India
Comedy Central expanded its reach in Asia with the launch of a dedicated channel in India on January 23, 2012, through Viacom 18.
April 1, 2012: Comedy Central Launches in Russia as Paramount Comedy
On April 1, 2012, Comedy Central launched a Russian-language version of its channel, branded as Paramount Comedy, in Russia.
April 2012: VH1 Poland Relaunched
After becoming Comedy Central Family Poland earlier, VH1 Poland was relaunched as its own channel in April 2012.
April 2012: Comedy Central New Zealand Rebrands
Comedy Central's presence in New Zealand was further solidified with a rebranding effort in April 2012, aligning it with the network's global identity.
May 2012: VH1 Block Removed
In May 2012, the VH1 programming block was removed from Comedy Central Family Poland.
June 2012: Comedy Central Poland Switches to 16:9 Format
On June 12, 2012, Comedy Central Poland, along with Comedy Central Extra, switched to a 16:9 picture format.
November 1, 2012: Comedy Central Asia Launches in Singapore
StarHub introduced Comedy Central Asia in Singapore on November 1, 2012, making it part of its Basic Entertainment Upsize package.
2012: Atom.com Absorbed into Comedy Central
In 2012, Comedy Central absorbed the website Atom.com, formerly known as AtomFilms.
May 2013: Comedy Central Announces End of "Futurama"
Despite reviving the show in 2010, Comedy Central announced in May 2013 that it would not renew its contract for "Futurama," ending the show's run on the network.
October 21, 2013: Comedy Central Premieres "@midnight"
On October 21, 2013, Comedy Central premiered its nightly comedy-game show "@midnight," hosted by Chris Hardwick.
May 14, 2014: Comedy Central Expands to Spain
On May 14, 2014, Comedy Central replaced Paramount Comedy in Spain.
December 18, 2014: Stephen Colbert's Final "Colbert Report" Episode Airs on Comedy Central
On December 18, 2014, the final episode of "The Colbert Report" aired on Comedy Central after nine years, with a record 2.481 million viewers.
January 19, 2015: "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" Premieres on Comedy Central
Larry Wilmore's "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" premiered on Comedy Central on January 19, 2015, replacing "The Colbert Report."
February 10, 2015: Jon Stewart Announces Retirement From "The Daily Show"
On February 10, 2015, Jon Stewart announced he would be retiring from "The Daily Show" after 16 years.
August 6, 2015: Jon Stewart's Final "Daily Show" Episode Airs
Jon Stewart's final episode on "The Daily Show" aired on August 6, 2015, after 16 years of hosting.
September 28, 2015: Trevor Noah Takes Over "The Daily Show"
Trevor Noah replaced Jon Stewart as the host of "The Daily Show" on September 28, 2015.
August 18, 2016: Comedy Central Cancels "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore"
On August 18, 2016, Comedy Central canceled "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" due to low ratings.
January 5, 2017: Comedy Central Granted Programming License in Finland
On January 5, 2017, the Finnish government granted Comedy Central a television programming license, allowing it to broadcast from May 17, 2017, to January 10, 2027.
May 17, 2017: Comedy Central Begins Broadcasting in Finland
On May 17, 2017, Comedy Central began broadcasting in Finland under a license granted by the Finnish government.
August 4, 2017: Comedy Central Cancels "@midnight"
On August 4, 2017, "@midnight" aired its 600th and final episode. The show was canceled due to low ratings.
November 2017: Comedy Central Family Launches in Hungary
Comedy Central Family launched in Hungary, replacing VIVA Hungary in November 2017.
November 16, 2017: Comedy Central Launches in Ukraine as Paramount Comedy
On November 16, 2017, Comedy Central launched a Ukrainian-language version of its channel, branded as Paramount Comedy, in Ukraine.
February 2018: Comedy Central Extra Begins Airing Comedy Central Extra Block
On February 22, 2018, at 8 p.m. CET, Comedy Central Extra began airing a Comedy Central Extra block.
February 2018: Comedy Central Extra Block Launched in Poland
The Comedy Central Extra block began airing on Comedy Central Family Poland as a night programming block in February 2018.
May 2018: Comedy Central Extra Netherlands Begins Airing Comedy Central Family Programs
Comedy Central Extra Netherlands began airing Comedy Central Family programming in anticipation of Comedy Central Family's closure in the Netherlands in May 2018.
May 2018: Comedy Central Family Ends in the Netherlands
Comedy Central Family stopped broadcasting in the Netherlands in May 2018, with its programming moving to Comedy Central Extra.
July 2018: Comedy Central Updates Branding
In July of 2018, Comedy Central refreshed its branding with a new typeface and a new corporate color of amber.
February 11, 2019: "Crank Yankers" Revival Announced on Comedy Central
On February 11, 2019, a revival of "Crank Yankers" was announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The show will return to Comedy Central for a 20-episode season.
May 1, 2019: Pluto TV Launches Two Comedy Central Channels
On May 1, 2019, Viacom-owned Pluto TV launched "Comedy Central Pluto," which airs classic Comedy Central series, and "Comedy Central Stand Up," which airs stand-up specials.
December 4, 2019: Viacom and CBS Corporation Merge to Form ViacomCBS
On December 4, 2019, Viacom and CBS Corporation re-merged to become ViacomCBS.
2019: Comedy Central Extra Logo Rebrand
Comedy Central Extra rebranded its logo to yellow in 2019.
January 2020: Polsat Comedy Central Extra Name Change Announced
In January 2020, it was announced that Comedy Central Extra would be renamed Polsat Comedy Central Extra.
March 2020: Comedy Central Family Poland Renamed
Comedy Central Family Poland was renamed to Polsat Comedy Central Extra in March 2020.
March 2020: Comedy Central Extra Becomes Polsat Comedy Central Extra
On March 3, 2020, Comedy Central Extra was renamed Polsat Comedy Central Extra.
December 15, 2020: Pluto TV Removes "Comedy Central Stand Up," Adds "Comedy Central Animation"
On December 15, 2020, Pluto TV removed "Comedy Central Stand Up" and added "Comedy Central Animation" to its lineup.
2020: Comedy Central Shifts Focus to Adult Animation, Reduces Live-Action Programming
In 2020, Comedy Central began shifting its programming toward adult animation and away from live-action shows, with new series and a new animation block.
December 2022: Comedy Central Extra Netherlands Ceases Broadcasting
Comedy Central Extra ceased broadcasting in the Netherlands in December 2022, with programming moving to Comedy Central Netherlands.
November 2023: Comedy Central's Reach Decreases
As of November 2023, Comedy Central's reach has decreased to approximately 68,000,000 pay television households in the United States, down from its peak of 99,000,000 households in 2011.
2023: Comedy Central Extra Continues Broadcasting in the UK & Ireland
As of 2023, Comedy Central Extra continues to broadcast in the UK & Ireland.
2024: Hungary Only Remaining Country with Comedy Central Family
As of 2024, Hungary is the only remaining country with the Comedy Central Family brand.
January 10, 2027: Comedy Central's License in Finland Expires
On January 10, 2027, Comedy Central's broadcasting license in Finland, granted in 2017, will expire.
