Comedy Central joins SiriusXM with new radio channel

Comedy Central has been on your TVs and on your Internet since before Y2K, but this spring, it’ll finally be on your satellite radios, too. Comedy Central Radio is coming to SiriusXM.

The TV network and the radio network announced the deal today.

Launch date is Spring 2013. Don’t be surprised if it happens on April 1, just because April Fool’s Day.

Quotes from the joint press release…

From SiriusXM, President and COO Scott Greenstein said: “Comedy Central is the definitive name and leader in the world of comedy and we are excited to work with them to create Comedy Central Radio for our listeners. By adding Comedy Central Radio to a comedy lineup that includes Blue Collar Radio and Jamie Foxx’s The Foxxhole, we are delivering unmatched and exclusive comedy programming to millions of listeners nationwide.”

Added Mitch Fried, Comedy Central’s executive vice president: “Comedy Central Radio will instantly become one of the premier destinations for high-quality comedy curated from our diverse and vast library of series and specials.”

Details remain vague. However, Comedy Central will release hundreds and hundreds of hours of stand-up performances from its vaults of former half-hours such as Comedy Central Presents and showcases as Premium Blend, as well as Comedy Central Roast broadcasts and hour-long specials. Comedy Central also expects to add new features to the channel, from backstage access to broadcasts from the recently announced “Certified Clubs” initiative  — plus comedians on the DJ mic to guest host and talk to listeners. No Comedy Central sketch or news programs (read: Daily Show, Colbert, South Park, Tosh.0, Key and Peele, Kroll Show, The Burn, Workaholics, and upcoming series) were announced as part of this deal. But most of those shows don’t translate to audio like stand-up does.

SiriusXM’s comedy channel lineup already includes Blue Collar Comedy, Jamie Foxx’s Foxxhole, George Carlin’s Corner, Upright Citizens Brigade Radio, Raw Dog Comedy, Dirty Dog and Laugh USA.

Select programming from Comedy Central Radio will be available on SiriusXM On Demand after it airs for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App or online at siriusxm.com.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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