The New York Comedy Festival has a new TV partner: TBS.
After spending 2016 relaunching its own comedy brand — and with it the premieres of Angie Tribeca, The Detour, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Wrecked, People of Earth and Search Party – all ranking among cable’s Top 25 new comedies on cable among adults 18-49, TBS now will help promote them and their talent through the NYCF, which celebrates its 14th year this November.
TBS replaces Comedy Central as the festival’s official TV partner.
Through the new deal, TBS will integrate series talent throughout the festival, help with fan experiences, and explore development deals.
The 2017 New York Comedy Festival will take place Nov. 7-12, including more than 200 comedians in more than 60 shows, plus a visit from Conan O’Brien and Conan for another week of broadcasts from the Apollo Theatre.
“The New York Comedy Festival gives us an incredible chance to support the best and brightest in comedy, as well as showcase the growing chorus of original voices at TBS,” said Michael Engleman, executive vice president of entertainment marketing & brand innovation for TBS and TNT. “The festival is simply a great place to create and celebrate fandom and the perfect environment to provide our collective fans with a more immersive connection to our brands.”
“TBS is at the forefront of comedy initiatives, and we are thrilled to begin working with them and taking the festival to new heights,” said Caroline Hirsch, owner of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway. “Partnering with TBS will provide us with new opportunities to present the very best comedic talent across multiple platforms and bring additional creative components to the festival, while finding new ways to engage with fans and audiences.”
With big shows at Carnegie Hall, Beacon Theatre, Town Hall, NYU’s Skirball Center, and other theaters and clubs across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, the annual NYCF also produces a “Stand Up For Heroes” all-star benefit for The Bob Woodruff Foundation, which has raised $40 million since 2007.