Viacom Pacts with Trevor Noah’s Day Zero Productions

Viacom has entered into a strategic partnership with Day Zero Productions, led by Trevor Noah, host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Under the long-term deal, Viacom will have exclusive first-look rights on all projects developed by Noah and Day Zero Productions in all media, including TV, feature films, digital and short-form video content. Viacom will also make an investment in Day Zero.

Bob Bakish, the president and CEO of Viacom, said, “Working with the best, most versatile talent in the entertainment industry is a strategic priority for Viacom, which is why we are thrilled to expand our relationship with Trevor and his creative team at Day Zero with this cross-house partnership. Trevor’s creative sensibilities and ability to drive the cultural conversation around issues that matter to our young, global audiences make him an ideal partner for Viacom across every screen we serve. We are particularly proud that Born a Crime will be produced and distributed by Paramount.”

Kent Alterman, the president of Comedy Central, said, “The degree to which people underestimated Trevor as he took over The Daily Show has made his success all the more meaningful. Seeing audiences on multiple platforms embrace his incredible comedy chops, his thoughtful and nuanced point of view, and his global perspective has been gratifying beyond measure. Trevor has limitless curiosity, vision and passion. He is just getting started.”

Noah added, “I’ve found a strong and incredibly valuable partnership in Viacom. Our shared vision of bringing diverse cultural conversations and exciting creative projects to the forefront of the entertainment industry and to our constantly expanding audience, continues to strengthen our relationship. I couldn’t be more excited to share Born a Crime with Paramount and the very talented Lupita Nyong’o.”