Comedy Central Goes Live in Israel

LONDON/TEL AVIV: MTV Networks International (MTVNI) has launched its 10th localized Comedy Central service outside of the U.S., with Israel’s HOT now carrying a Hebrew-language version of the 24-hour channel.

Comedy Central Israel is available to 1 million households. It offers such series as South Park, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, as well as Scrubs, That ’70s Show and late-night talk show Conan. Israeli comedy series on offer include The Wedding Season and puppet show Red Band. Comedy Central Israel will also air original, locally produced shows that feature and are hosted by Israeli comedic talent. This includes Comeback, hosted by Israel’s Uri Gottlieb, which debuts in February.

“The launch of Comedy Central in Israel is another example of how we are building scale with our entertainment brands and we are proud to further expand our portfolio in this competitive marketplace in partnership with our friends, Ananey Communications and HOT,” commented Miki Chojnacka-Mascianica, the VP of entertainment for emerging markets at MTVNI. “Israeli viewers have an insatiable appetite for comedy and we have no doubt that this, combined with the worldwide success of the Comedy Central brand, relevant mix of local and international programming and contemporary on-air look and feel, will quickly establish Comedy Central as THE destination for comedy in Israel.”
 
“We are very proud to bring to Israeli audiences another strong and successful brand from MTVNI’s portfolio. I am sure that with the Comedy Central brand, MTVNI’s knowledge and our understanding of Israeli audiences, Comedy Central Israel will become the number one comedy channel in Israel,” said Orly Atlas-Kats, the VP of  Ananey Communications.
 
Yoram Mokady, the VP of content at HOT, added, “We are delighted to cooperate with MTVNI and offer our subscribers in Israel the world’s leading comedy brand, Comedy Central. HOT has a long history in working with and supporting local producers and writers and we are looking forward to extending our investment in original productions into the comedy space. Our goal is to find and nurture new comedic talent in Israel while investing in innovative formats that appeal not only to our local audience but also Israeli audiences worldwide.”