Laff (TV network)

Laff

Type	Digital multicast television network
Country	United States
Availability	Nationwide via Over the air digital TV (covering 85% of the U.S.)[1]
Founded	January 18, 2015 (2015-01-18) by Jonathan Katz
Slogan	You know you want to.
Owner	Laff Media, LLC
Parent	Katz Broadcasting, LLC Storr Media
Key people	Jonathan Katz (president/CEO, Katz Broadcasting)
Launch date	April 15, 2015 (2015-04-15)
Picture format	480i (SDTV)
Affiliates	see list
Official website	www.laff.com

Laff is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by Laff Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Katz Broadcasting. The network specializes in comedy programming, featuring a mix of feature films and archived sitcoms. Laff is targeted at adults between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.^[2]

Originally, Katz sold the network to affiliated TV stations via ad split but by October 2015 had moved to a carriage fees in exchange for the network get the ad inventory due to greater inventory with stations adding a third or fourth subchannel.^[3]1 Laff used direct response advertising as a meter of viewers before switching to Nielsen rating C-3 in late 2015.^[3]3

History

Laff's launch was announced by Katz Broadcasting in January 2015 as having a scheduled launch date of 000000002015-04-15-0000April 15, 2015, which coincides with Tax Day in the United States, when tax returns are due and, as Broadcasting & Cable writer Jon Lafayette noted in an article on Laff's launch, "people will need something to make them smile."^[4]

Katz announced that television stations owned by ABC Owned Television Stations and 13 E. W. Scripps Company would serve as the network's charter affiliates.^[5][6] On March 13, 2015, Katz Broadcasting announced an affiliation deal with the Cox Media Group to carry Laff on the subchannels of seven of its stations expanding its initial reach to 47% of the country.^[7] The following week on March 20, as part of a multi-network affiliation agreement with Katz, the Meredith Corporation announced that it would carry the network on two of its stations.^[8][9]

On February 13, 2015, Laff acquired the syndication rights to five sitcoms.^[10] Laff followed that deal with three for film licensing with Walt Disney Studios, Miramax, and Sony Pictures Television by March 17.^[11]

Programming

Laff's comedy-centered programming consists of a mix of theatrically released feature films, as well as off-network sitcoms.^[2] Laff would set itself apart from its multicast competitors by carrying more contemporary programming content, in contrast to the reruns of series from the 1980s and earlier commonly found on other over-the-air networks which rely on acquired content.^[5] The network also provide additional content via the network's website and mobile app.^[12]

Movies

Laff's program schedule will have access to approximately 250 titles comedic films from the libraries of three film studios by virtue of multi-year program licensing agreements with Walt Disney Studios, Miramax, and Sony Pictures Entertainment (distributed by Sony Pictures Television).^[11][13]

Television series

In addition to films, much of Laff's programming lineup consists of reruns of situation comedies of over 800 episodes.^[11]

Current series

This is a list of shows airing on Laff as of June 5, 2017.^[14]

• Cybill
• The Drew Carey Show^[15]
• Ellen^[15]
• Empty Nest^[15]
• Grace Under Fire^[15]
• Grounded for Life
• Night Court^[15]
• Roseanne
• Spin City^[15]

E/I

As of 2017, Laff's E/I liabilities are handled by Litton Entertainment, the same provider used by the major networks.

• Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures
• Outback Adventures with Tim Faulkner
• Rescue Me with Dr. Lisa
• Food for Thought with Claire Thomas

Future Programming

• 3rd Rock from the Sun
• That '70s Show

Former Programming

• The Bernie Mac Show
• Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza
• Funniest Pets & People
• Life's Funniest Moments

Affiliates

As of 31 July 2017, Laff has current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations in 126 media markets encompassing 43 states and Puerto Rico (including stations in the top 13 markets), covering 75% of the United States.^[16]

Charter affiliates included all 8 ABC Owned Television Stations and 13 E. W. Scripps Company stations.^[5][6] The two initial deals gave Laff affiliate clearances in 35% of all U.S. markets, and 13 of the 30 largest television markets (including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, and Houston). On March 13, 2015, Katz Broadcasting announced an affiliation deal with the Cox Media Group to carry Laff on seven of its stations (including WSB-TV in Atlanta and WFXT in Boston), expanding its initial reach to 47% of the country ^[7] the following week on March 20, as part of a multi-network affiliation agreement with Katz, the Meredith Corporation announced that it would carry the network on its stations in Portland, Oregon (KPTV) and Hartford (WFSB).^[8][9]

List of current affiliates

This is the current list of affiliates for Laff as of July 31, 2017.

List of former affiliates

References

External links

• Official website