Paramount Comedy Grows Russian Footprint, Picks Up Warner Bros. Package

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LONDON/MOSCOW: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) and Russia’s National Cable Networks (NCN) are extending the distribution of the Russian-language Paramount Comedy channel to 4 million households across the country.

Paramount Comedy, an extension of the Comedy Central brand, is a 24-hour fully localized and ad-supported premium channel. It broadcasts daily from its local hub in Moscow. The agreement will also see NCN’s ad sales division, National Media Advertising, represent Paramount Comedy channel spot sales

 

The channel will feature a range of new and exclusive programming through a new deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. The agreement brings to the country the third season of The Big Bang Theory and the Ashton Kutcher-led Two and a Half Men. A package of more than 300 hours of comedy programming is headed to the channel from Warner Bros. Shows such as 2 Broke Girls and the first six seasons of Friends are also coming to the network.

“It’s testament to the power of comedy and our channel’s successful launch that we’ve been able to secure carriage for Paramount Comedy with Russia’s leading cable operator,” commented David Lynn, the executive VP and managing director at VIMN for the U.K., Australia & Eastern Europe. “NCN’s expertise and deep infrastructure along with our newly enhanced slate of content is a winning combination and I’m really looking forward to extending the fun and the laughter to even more Russian fans.”

Dmitrey Bragin, the general director of NCN, added: “We’re very excited to be partnering with a globally recognized brand with top rated channels around the world. We’re looking forward to replicating this success in Russia with Paramount Comedy.”