Comedy Central Heads to New Zealand

AUCKLAND,
December 4: MTV Networks New Zealand and SKY Television are set to launch
Comedy Central as the country's first 24-hour all-comedy network in April 2009.

The
channel will feature a variety of original and acquired programming, including South Park, The Colbert Report, Reno 911 and
Chappelle's Show. Comedy Central will
be the third network operated locally by MTV Networks Australia and NZ, joining
sister channel brands MTV and Nickelodeon on the SKY digital platform.

Chris Keely,
the general manager for MTV Networks NZ, said: "The launch of Comedy
Central delivers good news for our NZ viewers and a business growth story,
which are currently few and far between. With our platform partner Sky
Television we are fortunate to be able to introduce the worlds top comedy brand
to the NZ market for the very first time."

"Comedy
Central has come along at just the right time," commented SKY's director
of entertainment programming, Travis Dunbar. "With all that's going on in
the world, it's great that SKY subscribers will now have a one-stop destination
for humor, irreverence and escape. And if laughter is the best medicine, then
I'd prescribe this channel daily!"

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski