Comedy Central eyes web distribution

Comedy Central will premiere a comedy special online in response to the growing trend for comedians to self-release their stand-up shows via the web.

Last year, US comedian Louis CK offered his self-produced comedy special Live at the Beacon Theatre (1×63′) online for US$5 and made US$1m over one weekend. The show aired six months later on US cablenet FX.

Likewise, US comedian Aziz Ansari used the direct-to-consumer online model to distribute his Dangerously Delicious stand-up show, which was later picked up by Comedy Central.

Speaking to C21, David Bernath, exec VP of programme strategy and multiplatform programming at Comedy Central, said: “The web represents a new platform for comedians, allowing them to manage their content with less involvement from the middleman.”

“We’re looking to do the same thing that Louis and Aziz have done and do specials through a similar method.”

Details of a new stand-up special under the Comedy Central banner featuring “multiple comedians” for distribution online will be revealed “in the next month or two,” he added.

“It’s the way of the future. The younger generation doesn’t necessarily want to go to the store to buy a DVD, they want to be able to access content on their devices. We’re looking to embrace that at Comedy Central.”

Bernath denied the trend for comedians to distribute their content online without a broadcaster could pose problems for Comedy Central in the future. “It was inevitable and it is disruptive, but we don’t see it as a major threat. It’s the kind of thing only a few people can pull off,” he said.