Comedy Central (India)

Comedy Central
Launched 23 January 2012
Owned by Viacom 18
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
Slogan Laugh it off
Country India
Language English
Broadcast area India
Headquarters CST No.461/462, Subhash road, Vile Parle (East), Mumbai[1]
Sister channel(s) MTV
VH1
Nick
Colors
Sonic
Website comedycentral.in
Availability
Satellite
airtel digital TV Channel 156
Dish TV Channel 456
Tata Sky Channel 211
Sun Direct Channel 465
Videocon d2h Channel 657
Cable
Asianet digital Channel 471
DEN Channel 657
Hathway Channel 657
Kerala Vision Digital TV Channel 220
Available on most cable providers Check local listings

Comedy Central in India is a localised version of Comedy Central which first began in the United States in the 1990s and in India on 23 January 2012. The channel's programming concentrates solely on comedy.[2] The English language comedy content programming with the options of the audio language feeds on direct-to-home (DTH). The channel airs many variety of comedy shows like sitcoms, reality, classics, candid-camera & comedy.

The channel is owned by Viacom 18, a 50:50 joint venture between Viacom Inc. and Network18. It is available in over 20 million households across the country and across analogue, digital cable & DTH.[3]

Programme schedule

The list of programs on Comedy Central India:[4]

Acquired series

Former programming

Broadcast ban

Comedy Central was prohibited from broadcasting in India for 10 days, from 25 May till 4 June 2012, after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting[6] issued a notice to the channel stating that two of shows aired by it, contained "indecent" content and "appeared to deprave, corrupt and injure the public morality and morals". The ministry stated the scenes "depicted women as a commodity of sex" and "posed a threat to public morality or morals",[7] thereby violating provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. The incidents involved an episode of Stand Up Club aired on 26 May 2012, where a comedian performed an act which the government described as containing "obscene dialogues and vulgar words derogatory to women and hence appeared to offend good taste and decency";[8] and an episode of the French hidden camera prank show PopCorn TV aired on 4 July 2012, where a crew member simulated having sex with a mannequin.[9] Comedy Central apologised for the broadcast, blaming it on an "unintentional genuine error".[10]

The channel was taken of the air for 4 days in 2013 over the same issue, but was permitted to resume broadcasting pending an appeal against the ban. The Delhi High Court upheld the ban on 26 November 2014, and ordered the channel to go of the air for the remaining 6 days, effective from midnight on 2 December 2014. The ban was heavily criticised on social media.[8] Critics felt that the government had used the vague framing of the Constitution to censor Internet material, threatening India's democratic traditions.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.comedycentral.in/contact-us
  2. ↑ Comedy Central will unveil its campaign in Feb
  3. ↑ http://www.comedycentral.in/about-us
  4. ↑ http://www.comedycentral.in/tv-schedule
  5. ↑ "Get ready for a primetime filled with laughter this August only on Comedy Central". 30 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Delhi HC upholds ban on Comedy Central". Dnaindia.com. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  7. ↑ ""Vulgar" Comedy Central channel goes off air". New Delhi: Hindustan Times. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "India suspends Comedy Central for six days". bbc.com. BBC. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "HC stays 10-day ban on Comedy Central's transmission". Dnaindia.com. PTI. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Uh Oh! US Network Comedy Central 'Temporarily Shut Down in India After Broadcasting Obscene Jokes'". Entertainmentwise. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Indian Court Lifts Ban on Comedy Central". Online.wsj.com. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.

External links