Middle East launch for Comedy Central

Middle Eastern pay TV platform OSN has added the Comedy Central channel to its line-up. The Viacom channel will join stable mates MTV, Nickelodeon channels on OSN.

Viacom International Media Networks has been aggressively rolling out its comedy net under president and CEO Bob Bakish.

Comedy Central will launch on OSN on May 7, with all of its content on the high definition net subtitled into Arabic. There will also be a Spike branded block on the channel.

Programming on the service will include the original version of hit Spike format Lip Sync Battle (top) and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (right).

Comedy Central staples, including South Park, will also feature and all the shows premiering on Comedy Central HD will be available on OSN’s catch-up service, OSN Play and via OSN on Demand.

Emad Morcos, senior VP, media partners and digital, at OSN, said: “Everybody loves a good laugh and OSN is offering great value with the addition of Comedy Central HD, a perfect fit to the entertainment preferences of people in the region.

Comedy Central contributes to the diversity of exclusive entertainment choices we have added to OSN this year.”

He added there are plans afoot to create local programming for the OSN Comedy Central.

Raffaele Annecchino, executive VP and managing director of VIMN South Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: ‘We are thrilled to work with OSN to further expand our distribution footprint in MENA and bring Comedy Central and Spike to the region.

“Furthermore, we are committed, as in all of our regions, to growing the local comedy scene and investing in local productions and we will be focusing our energies on this from the first year.’