VIMN launches Mid East Comedy Central

South Park

Viacom International Media Networks has launched Comedy Central in the Middle East and is looking to develop local talent for programming.

The channel started airing on Saturday helped by The Daily Show’s recently appointed host Trevor Noah, who took over from Jon Stewart last year.

The network is offered via local pay TV operator OSN and is available to viewers in the region alongside fellow Viacom networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.

Viacom has stocked the Middle East feed with shows subtitled in Arabic such as South Park, Tosh.0 and Inside Amy Schumer, plus programming from sibling network Spike, while local content is also being explored.

In 2009 MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central Studios Arabia following a deal with Abu Dhabi-based Twofour54. However, the studio was closed in 2012.