Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) is expanding its portfolio of brands in Australia with the launch of a Comedy Central website.
VIM, which currently includes MTV and Nickelodeon, will create a fresh comedy site that delivers exclusive local editorial and video content, as well as a catalogue of video highlights from hit international Comedy Central titles, all found at comedycentral.com.au.
The local Comedy Central team will operate out of the VIMN headquarters in East Sydney.
Throughout the year, comedycentral.com.au is set to launch local video content featuring Aussie comedians, YouTube stars, sketch groups and live comedy events.
The first official commission scheduled for early 2016 is the Australian absurdist sketch group, Aunty Donna. The Melbourne based trio consisting of Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane have performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Newly appointed digital editor, Cyrus Bezyan, will oversee editorial for the website with Joshua Duncan appointed as Comedy Central digital manager, both reporting into Simon Bates, head of MTV & Comedy Central, Australia & New Zealand.
“We’re very excited to be working with local comedians and have been blown away by the quality of Australian comedic talent,” Head of MTV & Comedy Central, Australia & New Zealand Simon Bates said.
“Comedy Central is the biggest comedy brand in the world and continues to produce some of the most memorable and shareable comedy content. We’re looking forward to featuring some of the biggest names from our roster alongside up and coming local comic legends on one platform.”
In addition to locally created and curated content, Australian users can access highlights from Comedy Central smash hits such as Inside Amy Schumer, The Daily Show, Broad City, South Park, Key & Peele, Workaholics, and more.
The Comedy Central website is organised into a variety of editorial categories:
• Actual News delivers topical entertainment news
• Fat Cats explores business and politics
• Human People focuses on human behaviour and lifestyle
• Other categories include Bench Warmers, (because there’s not enough sports coverage in the world) Technophobes, for science geeks and Taste Bud, a cooking craze parody.
MCN will be managing advertising sales for the Comedy Central website alongside other VIMN brands in Australia.
MCN digital partnerships and product development director Suzie Cardwell added, “As the creators of the best broadcast quality comedy content in the world, it delivers advertisers amazing opportunities within a brand safe digital platform. We look forward to helping brands connect to such a well-known international brand on a local scale.”
