Comedy Central opens Arabian studio

MTV Networks International (MTVNI) is launching Comedy Central Studios Arabia following a deal with Abu Dhabi-based Twofour54.

The studio, headquartered at Twofour54’s offices, will develop and produce local Arabic-language comedy content for broadcast and distribution across the Middle East and North Africa.

The new venture will also draw on Comedy Central’s library of international formats to produce localised versions for the Arabic market.

Twofour54 CEO Tony Orsten, who was previously at Viacom for 12 years, heading Paramount Comedy Networks Europe, said Comedy Central Studios Arabia would unlock “untapped creative potential in the region” and “go a long way in helping to create an Arabic comedy industry.”

“Working together with Twofour54, we aim to make Abu Dhabi the home of Arabic comedy production,” added MTVNI emerging markets MD and executive VP Bhavneet Singh.