https://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Talel+Ben+Jemia&feedformat=atomFMMC0104 - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T13:36:22ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.35.14https://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1438Comedy Central2010-12-01T22:13:10Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranges from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/Pages/comedycentral.aspx</ref>&nbsp; Comedy Central was ranked among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with ''South Park'' and ''The Sarah Silverman Project''. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like ''South Park'' has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though ''South Park'' carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br><br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promos and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is aiming at&nbsp; reaching viewers through popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with ''South Park'' exclusives to mobile phones. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central tries to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to promote their programming. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show ''Stella'', through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref><br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, seeks to establish itself as "the #1 provider of surprising [...] laugh-out-loud programming"<ref>Google Ads Networks, Dec 1, 2010: <br />
http://www.google.com/adwords/tvads/networks.html</ref>. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."<br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings launching a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of ''South Park''. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between what men and women consider to be funny. The Comedy Central cards are mostly being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp;<br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. ''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on other networks, airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' is an attempt to allow Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br><br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1437Comedy Central2010-12-01T22:09:24Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranges from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/Pages/comedycentral.aspx</ref>&nbsp; Comedy Central was ranked among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with ''South Park'' and ''The Sarah Silverman Project''. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like ''South Park'' has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though ''South Park'' carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br><br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promos and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is aiming at&nbsp; reaching viewers through popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with ''South Park'' exclusives to mobile phones. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central tries to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to promote their programming. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show ''Stella'', through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref><br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, seeks to establish itself as "the #1 provider of surprising [...] laugh-out-loud programming"<ref>Google Ads Networks, Dec 1, 2010: <br />
http://www.google.com/adwords/tvads/networks.html</ref>. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."<br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings launching a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of ''South Park''. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between what men and women consider to be funny. The Comedy Central cards are mostly being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp;<br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1436Comedy Central2010-12-01T22:06:06Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranges from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/Pages/comedycentral.aspx</ref>&nbsp; Comedy Central was ranked among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with ''South Park'' and ''The Sarah Silverman Project''. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like ''South Park'' has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though ''South Park'' carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br><br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promos and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is aiming at&nbsp; reaching viewers through popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with ''South Park'' exclusives to mobile phones. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central tries to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to promote their programming. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show ''Stella'', through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref><br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, seeks to establish itself as "the #1 provider of surprising [...] laugh-out-loud programming"<ref>Google Ads Networks, Dec 1, 2010: <br />
http://www.google.com/adwords/tvads/networks.html</ref>. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."<br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1435Comedy Central2010-12-01T21:59:24Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranges from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/Pages/comedycentral.aspx</ref>&nbsp; Comedy Central was ranked among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with ''South Park'' and ''The Sarah Silverman Project''. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like ''South Park'' has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though ''South Park'' carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br><br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promos and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is aiming at&nbsp; reaching viewers through popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with ''South Park'' exclusives to mobile phones. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central tries to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to promote their programming. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show ''Stella'', through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref><br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."<br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1434Comedy Central2010-12-01T21:57:55Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranges from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/Pages/comedycentral.aspx</ref>&nbsp; Comedy Central was ranked among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with ''South Park'' and ''The Sarah Silverman Project''. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like ''South Park'' has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though ''South Park'' carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br><br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promos and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is aiming at&nbsp; reaching viewers through popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with ''South Park'' exclusives to mobile phones. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central tries to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to promote their programming. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show ''Stella'', through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref><br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1433Comedy Central2010-12-01T21:53:54Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranges from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/Pages/comedycentral.aspx</ref>&nbsp; Comedy Central was ranked among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with ''South Park'' and ''The Sarah Silverman Project''. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like ''South Park'' has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though ''South Park'' carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br><br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1430Comedy Central2010-12-01T21:49:47Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* History and Ownership */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's Ha!. The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and ''Short Attention Span Theater'', became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was ''Win Ben Stein's Money'' a popular game show before the days of ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire''. The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?''. Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as ''South Park'', which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'', and the cutting edge clip show ''Tosh.O''. Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1418Comedy Central2010-12-01T20:12:47Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* History and Ownership */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Network's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel is Michele Ganeless who has been in this role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. Another innovative original programming the network debuted was "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has gone more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref><br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis<br> ==<br />
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=== '''Programming Availability''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes through the website. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page.&nbsp;&nbsp;By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for ''South Park'', but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows. &nbsp;When an episode being viewed, the page also has video links to other shows, also keeping with the idea of drawing the viewer into another show. &nbsp;New episodes generally stay online for four weeks, but there are shows like ''South Park'' who offer almost every episode in its series. &nbsp;While there are not full episodes available of every show that is currently on air, Comedy Central does offer numerous video clips and other ways to interact through the webpage of each show.&nbsp; <br />
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In 2007, 8 years of archives from ''The Daily Show'' became fully accessible by viewers on its website. The addition of the video archive was part of a larger MTV strategy to create branded websites for popular shows. <ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>&nbsp;Such shows as The Daily Show that has become such a part of this American generation, that only have a section of it on ComedyCentral.com wouldn't do it justice. &nbsp;So the popular shows, ''The&nbsp;Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park'' have their own respective sites for full episodes as well as additional features. <br />
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In early 2010, after months negotiations, Viacom made the decision to pull Comedy Central's shows off the popular online video service, Hulu. &nbsp;It's been speculated that Hulu was not offerring enough money given the fact that Comedy Central's shows are among the most watched shows.&nbsp;<ref>James, Meg. "Comedy Central pulls 'Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report' from Hulu." Los Angeles Times. 3 Mar 2010. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central may also want to keep the shows exclusively on its sites to keep the advertising to themselves. Though this may be the case with Hulu,&nbsp;if a viewer still searches for the shows on the website, they will be directed to the episodes on the Comedy Central sites.<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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Comedy Central's advertisements are mainly directed at it's target audience, the male 18-34. &nbsp;When the website's homepage is accessed, there is a preview clip of an upcoming episode in the middle of the page. &nbsp;The clip does not always automatically play, but when it does, there is usually an advertisement that plays before the preview. &nbsp;And like most websites that stream video, ads play before and during the clip or episode. &nbsp;The advertisement on Comedy Central's homepage changes every few days. &nbsp;There is usually one company that is the main advertisement of the page; this means that the advertisement gets the banner slot, a large rectangular spot on the right side of the page, and is often also the background of the homepage. &nbsp;With this system, it would be difficult to ignore what is being advertised. Research done on Comedy Central's viewer lifestyle has shown that they are more likely to play video games, consume energy drinks/fast food, and also purchase big ticket items. &nbsp;Knowing this, car companies, video game companies, and fast food chains such as McDonald's often place advertisements on the site. &nbsp;Not all advertisers have standalone ads; they are often shown in Comedy Central special ads in which they are "presented by." &nbsp;When the ''The Daily Show's'' website was launched, Tivo, Hyundai, and AT&amp;T were launch sponsors for the new site. &nbsp;The site integrated banner advertisements, video commercials before and after a show excerpt, and had advertising messages going across the bottom of the screen during the segments.&nbsp;<ref>Stelter, Brian. "‘Daily Show’ Archives Appear Online." New York Times. 18 Oct 2007. Web. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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=== Para-text ===<br />
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Comedy Central invite viewers the opportunity to interact with it's online website. When the website is accessed, viewers get the option to log in/sign up or connect through the popular social network service, Facebook. Once the viewer is logged in or connected through Facebook, the viewer is now a part of the Comedy Central community; this allows viewers to rate and comment on videos as well as interacting with each fans. Being a part of the community also lets the viewer have a user profile on the website as well as link it to a Twitter account. &nbsp;This Facebook/Twitter connection allows viewers to "like" or share Comedy Central content to their friends, which in turn generates more traffic on the site. <br />
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When Southparkstudios.com was launched in 2008, the new site created an all new "''South Park'' digital experience" for fans. Alongside the great amount of episodes and behind-the-scene videos offered, the site also offers a ''South Park'' Avatar Generator in which users can create a character from within the series. With endless possibilities, users can create a perfect personal avatar, allowing them to immerse into the ''South Park'' world.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central also has a 'Blogs' tab in which viewers can get more information and news on what's going on beyond the shows. &nbsp;If the viewer is not up for watching or reading, they can click on the 'Games' tab where the site offers both games related to the shows and those that are sponsored. &nbsp;And viewers of Comedy Central who want to take their fandom beyond viewership can do so through the network's online store.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Fan Interaction ===<br />
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'''Fan Forums'''<br>Though Comedy Central does not have a forum on the channels official website, there are many "show specific" website affiliates that house their own forums. These websites have links on the official Comedy Central site. Examples of these websites are http://www.thedailyshow.com and http://www.southparkstudios.com. They provide a platform on which fans can interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show. However, certain fan bases such as ''South Park'', show more loyalty towards the program than the channel. On the South Park Studio's forum, in reaction to news that ''South Park'' would be renewed for a fifteenth season, a member by the name of gtaca2005 commented, "''South Park'' put Comedy Central on the national cable map. Believe it or not, Comedy Central wasn't that big until ''South Park''. It was big, but not that big." Fans on an external ''South Park'' forum, http://awesom-o.com/, reacted with vitriol towards the channel after an episode was pulled for censorship reasons in the UK. Member spikewestphal remarked, "im outraged due to Comedy Central UK decided to pull ''South Park'' ep 201 overall. ep 201 it makes me sick to think that muslims get special treatment when Matt Stone and Trey Parker rip on all religns so i started a petition and facebook page witch i will post here". He also provided links to a Facebook petition in his post.<br><br />
The official forum for ''The Daily Show ''has a specially marked section for Fan Suggestions. The suggestions on this site are positive and constructively based criticism for the most part. However, there is some backlash to some of the programs decisions. A recent decision that caused an almost uniformly negative reaction on the forum was the appointment of News Correspondent Olivia Munn. Many members of the forum viewed Munn's appointment to be based purely on her attractiveness, rather than political acumen or comedic abilities. Member SelenesRaven complained that, "I'm sure it's great that she looks so great posing in bikini photos and all, but she is NOT remotely funny. And since when has the ''Daily Show'' resigned itself to the base notion that it should use attractive women in order to get ratings, as opposed to using talented comedians?!" <br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006, Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of ''South Park'', in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censorship. ''South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats, Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;<ref>Tapper, Jake &amp; Morris, Dan. ABC News Sep 2006. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censored in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censorship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censorship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the network's decision. In 2006, Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censoring.&nbsp;<ref>Bershad, Dan. Apr 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many ''South Park'' fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.&nbsp;<ref>Malcom, Andrew. Los Angeles Times. Apr 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref>'''<br>''' <br />
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Due to Comedy Central's distinctive programming, fans of these message boards seem to identify themselves with the shows rather than the channel as a whole. Most of the fans are critical of the network when a decision is made that they do not agree with, but praise the show itself for commendable actions. This does not seem to differentiate between the official and unofficial fan forums.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1250Comedy Central2010-11-19T02:17:22Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis ==<br />
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=== Online Presence ===<br />
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Opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand<br>allows the option to to log in or sign up or connect through the popular social network Facebook<br>"Like" on Facebook, or follow on Twitter <br />
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'''Availability of programming on their own site and/or others:''' <br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes on the show's respective site. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page. By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for South Park, but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows.<br> <br />
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Hulu - South Park, but The Daily Show &amp; The Colbert Report is taken off by Viacom <br />
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/media/03hulu.html <br />
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03 <br />
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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/<br><br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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'''Type of online advertising''' own shows <br />
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Starbucks, AT&amp;T/T-Mobile Atom.com - AutoFilms, Buick Regal - Comedy Festival <br />
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Video Games <br />
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Like most websites, ads play before clip/episode, during <br />
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Homepage - preview clip of show with ad playing before <br />
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'''How all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile''' <br />
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=== Fan Interaction'''<br>''' ===<br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006 Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of South Park, in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censurship. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.<ref>Tapper, Jake/ Morris, Dan; ABC News September 2006: fckLRhttp://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censured in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censurship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censurship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the networks decision. In 2006 Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censuring.<ref>Bershad, Dan; April 2010: fckLRhttp://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many South Park fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.<ref>Malcom, Andrew; Los Angeles Times April 2010:fckLRhttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/04/creators-of-everybody-draw-muhammad-day-abandon-effort-after-it-becomes-controversial.html</ref><br> <br />
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Comedy Central provides fan forums and full episodes online and encourages them to interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. The ongoing issues with Muhammad's representation have led to some criticism though many fans of the show have sided with the network in this instance. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show - this is evident from the message boards in forums on the networks page as well as on exterior fanpages. <br />
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'''Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why?''' <br />
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'''Compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites'''<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1249Comedy Central2010-11-19T02:16:40Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis ==<br />
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=== Online Presence ===<br />
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Opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand<br>allows the option to to log in or sign up or connect through the popular social network Facebook<br>"Like" on Facebook, or follow on Twitter <br />
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'''Availability of programming on their own site and/or others:''' <br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes on the show's respective site. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page. By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for South Park, but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows.<br> <br />
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Hulu - South Park, but The Daily Show &amp; The Colbert Report is taken off by Viacom <br />
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/media/03hulu.html <br />
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03 <br />
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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/<br><br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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'''Type of online advertising''' own shows <br />
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Starbucks, AT&amp;T/T-Mobile Atom.com - AutoFilms, Buick Regal - Comedy Festival <br />
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Video Games <br />
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Like most websites, ads play before clip/episode, during <br />
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Homepage - preview clip of show with ad playing before <br />
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'''How all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile''' <br />
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=== Fan Interaction'''<br>''' ===<br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006 Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of South Park, in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censurship. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad.<ref>Tapper, Jake/ Morris, Dan; ABC News September 2006: <br />
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censured in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censurship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censurship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the networks decision. In 2006 Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censuring.<ref>Bershad, Dan; April 2010: <br />
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&amp;page=1</ref> Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many South Park fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Due to negative reactions this "event" was dropped though.<ref>Malcom, Andrew; Los angeles Times April 2010:<br />
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Comedy Central provides fan forums and full episodes online and encourages them to interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. The ongoing issues with Muhammad's representation have led to some criticism though many fans of the show have sided with the network in this instance. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show - this is evident from the message boards in forums on the networks page as well as on exterior fanpages. <br />
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'''Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why?''' <br />
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'''Compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites'''<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1248Comedy Central2010-11-19T01:59:37Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis ==<br />
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=== Online Presence ===<br />
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Opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand<br>allows the option to to log in or sign up or connect through the popular social network Facebook<br>"Like" on Facebook, or follow on Twitter <br />
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'''Availability of programming on their own site and/or others:''' <br />
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Comedy Central allows viewers to directly watch episodes on the show's respective site. &nbsp;When the Comedy Central website is accessed, viewers wanting to watch full episodes can hover over the 'Full Episodes' tab. This activates a drop-down list of the network's shows and clicking on a link will direct you to the show's viewing page. By presenting the current shows in this list format, it offers the viewer more choices; the viewer may have simply been looking for South Park, but they now might also want to catch an episode or two of the other shows.<br> <br />
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Hulu - South Park, but The Daily Show &amp; The Colbert Report is taken off by Viacom <br />
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/media/03hulu.html <br />
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03 <br />
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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/<br><br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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'''Type of online advertising''' own shows <br />
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Starbucks, AT&amp;T/T-Mobile Atom.com - AutoFilms, Buick Regal - Comedy Festival <br />
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Video Games <br />
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Like most websites, ads play before clip/episode, during <br />
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Homepage - preview clip of show with ad playing before <br />
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'''How all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile''' <br />
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=== Fan Interaction'''<br>''' ===<br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006 Comedy Central aired the episodes "The Cartoon Wars I and II" of South Park, in which the show pokes fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censurship. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censured in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censurship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censurship has been met with mostly criticism and but also some approval from the show's fans. While many fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the networks decision. In 2006 Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they accept and do not blame Comedy Central for their censuring. Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network effectively pulled the episode from the South Park Studios Website, withholding approval to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. A group, including many South Park fans, then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech.<br> <br />
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Comedy Central provides fan forums and full episodes online and encourages them to interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. The ongoing issues with Muhammad's representation have led to some criticism though many fans of the show have sided with the network in this instance. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show - this is evident from the message boards in forums on the networks page as well as on exterior fanpages. <br />
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'''Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why?''' <br />
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'''Compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites'''<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1222Comedy Central2010-11-18T22:51:20Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
<br />
=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis ==<br />
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=== Online Presence ===<br />
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Opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand<br>allows the option to to log in or sign up or connect through the popular social network Facebook<br>"Like" on Facebook, or follow on Twitter <br />
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'''Availability of programming on their own site and/or others:''' <br />
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Viewed on own respective sites - can be directed to through Comedy Central website. <br />
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Hulu - South Park, but The Daily Show &amp; The Colbert Report is taken off by Viacom <br />
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/media/03hulu.html <br />
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03 <br />
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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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'''Type of online advertising''' own shows <br />
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Starbucks, AT&amp;T/T-Mobile Atom.com - AutoFilms, Buick Regal - Comedy Festival <br />
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Video Games <br />
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Like most websites, ads play before clip/episode, during <br />
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Homepage - preview clip of show with ad playing before <br />
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'''How all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile''' <br />
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=== Fan Interaction'''<br>''' ===<br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006 "The Cartoon Wars I and II" aired, in which the South Park creators poke fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censurship. Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censured in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censurship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censurship has been met with both criticism and approval from the show's fans. While some fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the networks decision. In 2006 Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they do not hold a grudge against Comedy Central for their decision. Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network pulled the episode from its website, withholding the approval to the creators to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. South Park fans then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech.<br> <br />
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Comedy Central provides fan forums and full episodes on its website where it encourages fans to interact and give feedback. This approach has led to a positive image of the network with the show's fans. The ongoing issues with Muhammad's representation have led to some criticism though many fans of the show have sided with the network in this instance. Overall, the network has a positive standing with most fans of the show - this is evident from the message boards on forums on the networks page as well as on exterior fanpages.<br />
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<br> <br />
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'''Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why?''' <br />
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'''Compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites'''<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1220Comedy Central2010-11-18T22:42:58Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
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=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis ==<br />
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=== Online Presence ===<br />
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Opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand<br>allows the option to to log in or sign up or connect through the popular social network Facebook<br>"Like" on Facebook, or follow on Twitter <br />
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'''Availability of programming on their own site and/or others:''' <br />
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Viewed on own respective sites - can be directed to through Comedy Central website. <br />
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Hulu - South Park, but The Daily Show &amp; The Colbert Report is taken off by Viacom <br />
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/media/03hulu.html <br />
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03 <br />
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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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'''Type of online advertising''' own shows <br />
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Starbucks, AT&amp;T/T-Mobile Atom.com - AutoFilms, Buick Regal - Comedy Festival <br />
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Video Games <br />
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Like most websites, ads play before clip/episode, during <br />
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Homepage - preview clip of show with ad playing before <br />
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'''How all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile''' <br />
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<br> <br />
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<br> <br />
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=== Fan Interaction'''<br>''' ===<br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006 "The Cartoon Wars I and II" aired, in which the South Park creators poke fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censurship. Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censured in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censurship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced. This censurship has been met with both criticism and approval from the show's fans. While some fans have pointed to the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, other fans in forums have voiced appreciation and consent with the networks decision. In 2006 Trey and Parker have publicly stated that they do not hold a grudge against Comedy Central for their decision. Four years later though, when in Episode "201" the prophet's name was bleeped and the network pulled the episode from its website, withholding the approval to the creators to share it online, they did express dismay over the networks handling of the situation. South Park fans then organized the "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20th 2010, again insisting on their constitutional right to freedom of speech.<br><br />
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'''Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why?''' <br />
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'''Compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites'''<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1217Comedy Central2010-11-18T22:20:55Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* Audience &amp; Online Analysis */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.&nbsp;<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.&nbsp;<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.&nbsp;<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.&nbsp;<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, using a half-hour format that combines the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscasts. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live studio audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart often welcomes guests, some of whom are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program makes frequent use of actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and many other famous comedians, such as Steve Carell and John Oliver. It has also elevated lead-anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. Among other things, he hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics- America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but it has also been noted for its astute political commentary and informative look at world affairs. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking the fallacies and misrepresentations promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose the failure of journalists and politicians to inform and serve the public interest. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>. It is with this unique approach to news casting that the Daily Show has achieved its superlative results. <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience, allowing the network to promote other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that, relative to viewers of other newscasts, viewers of ''The Daily Show'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs. <ref>Steve Benen. 21 Apr 2010. Washington Monthly. Web. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>&nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding the appearance.&nbsp;<ref>Sean O'Neal. "The Daily Show tops Letterman and Leno for the first time." 4 Nov 2010. A.V. Club. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
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''The Daily Show'' fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;Being a "fake news" program, the show&nbsp;constantly covers a variety of topics and with those topics, Stewart criticizes the doings of public figures in a over-the-top satiric format to get the jokes/punchlines out. &nbsp;Though it wasn't the show's intention, audiences do view&nbsp;''The Daily Show ''as a primary source of news; they would rather watch news portrayed in a humorous and satiric format than turning into regular news programs that presents the same news in a serious tone. &nbsp;The show&nbsp;speaks to Americans in a way that we just simply don't want dry cut news anymore; though ''The Daily Show'' functions as a somewhat relaxed "news" source, the show gets people to think critically about those portrayed. <br />
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In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.&nbsp;<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear.)"<br> <br />
<br />
=== South Park (1997-Present) ===<br />
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''South Park'' is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through ''The Terence and Philip Show'', a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. ''South Park'' is computer animated, with very simplistic animations, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look.&nbsp; <br />
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''South Park's'' target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again, 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of ''South Park'' opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>"Show Disclaimer." South Park Studios. Web. Nov 4 2010. http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Mohammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit.&nbsp;'''<ref>"Malaysian Islamists want apology from 'South Park'". Big Cartoon Forum. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref>''' However, the show maintains that it is an equal abuser of all religions and ideologies, and does not align itself with a paticular point of view. Over the years the Creators have come under fire for leaning too liberal or too conservative. Trey Parker, one of the shows creators, maintains that the criticisms are erroneous: "I look at it like this. I have a cat, I love my cat and it's like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, is that cat a Republican or a Democrat?' He's my fucking cat, leave him alone." This quote mirrors the fact that the writers do not intend the show to be taken to seriously, though it often is. <ref>Leo, Alex. "Matt Stone &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies." Huffington Post. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html</ref> <br />
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''South Park ''provides a different approach to animated comedy, different from that of The Simpsons, that enjoys pushing boundaries by addressing taboo issues.''&nbsp;South Park ''adds to Comedy Central's lineup of satirical shows such as ''The Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Repor''t. &nbsp;You might say viewers are watching South Park for that same format of satire on current events. &nbsp;''South Park'' has alluded to many of the contemporary tragedies that have occurred in the United States. In "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants," al Qaeda captures the boys in post-9/11 Afghanistan or in the episode "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow," Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy ''South Park's'' biggest beaver dam, causing a Katrina-like flood."&nbsp;<ref>Leonard, David. "'South Park' creators haven't lost their edge." 27 Oct 2007. Cable News Network. Nov 4 2010. Web. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm</ref>&nbsp;The use of pop culture references in ''South Park'' is also able to draw in different viewers for each episode. &nbsp;With each episode taking on a different topic, fans of said topic are most likely to tune in to the show to enjoy some&nbsp;humorous criticism. <br />
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''South Park'' airs on&nbsp;Wednesday nights at 10pm. &nbsp;Comedy Central has used the drawing power of ''South Park'' as a lead in for a new animated series, ''Ugly Americans'', that premiered back in March of 2010. &nbsp;Before&nbsp;''South Park'' made its premiere on Comedy Central in 1997, the cable channel was faltering in its goals to create original and humorous programming. It had resorted to airing reruns of shows such as''The Benny Hill Show'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. Since its debut, South Park&nbsp;has been the catalyst for much of Comedy Central's success''. &nbsp;''South Park&nbsp;had given shows like''The Daily Show&nbsp;''great jumpsin the ratings.&nbsp;Comedy Central's then president ''(1997), ''Doug Herzog, had said, "We had already been ticking up. This show is kind of like adding jet fuel."&nbsp;<ref>Carter, Bill. "Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit." 10 Nov 1997. The New York Times. 4 Nov 2010. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html</ref>&nbsp;''South Park's&nbsp;''airing on Wednesday nights could draw in viewers who have just finished tuning into ABC's comedy night with its hit shows,&nbsp;''Modern Family''&nbsp;and&nbsp;''Cougar Town.'''''<br>'''<br />
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== Audience &amp; Online Analysis ==<br />
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=== Online Presence ===<br />
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Opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand<br>allows the option to to log in or sign up or connect through the popular social network Facebook<br>"Like" on Facebook, or follow on Twitter <br />
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'''Availability of programming on their own site and/or others:''' <br />
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Viewed on own respective sites - can be directed to through Comedy Central website. <br />
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Hulu - South Park, but The Daily Show &amp; The Colbert Report is taken off by Viacom <br />
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/media/03hulu.html <br />
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http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/03/entertainment/la-et-hulu3-2010mar03 <br />
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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/daily-show-archives-online/<br> <br />
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=== '''Online Advertising''' ===<br />
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'''Type of online advertising''' own shows <br />
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Starbucks, AT&amp;T/T-Mobile Atom.com - AutoFilms, Buick Regal - Comedy Festival <br />
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Video Games <br />
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Like most websites, ads play before clip/episode, during <br />
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Homepage - preview clip of show with ad playing before <br />
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'''How all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile''' <br />
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<br> <br />
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=== Fan Interaction'''<br>''' ===<br />
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'''Muhammad Episode, Censoring and Fan Reaction'''<br> <br />
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In April of 2006 "The Cartoon Wars I and II" aired, in which the South Park creators poke fun at the controversy surrounding the Muhammad caricature and censurship. Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats before and after broadcasting of the episode and in the light of these threats Comedy Central censured the episodes, putting a black box on what would have been a representation of the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad had been shown in previous episodes but was censured in all episodes following "The Cartoon Wars I and II". The censurship goes as far as bleeping his name when referenced.<br />
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'''Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why?''' <br />
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'''Compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites'''<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1025Comedy Central2010-11-05T05:54:35Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* South Park (1996-Present) */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and has elevated anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics, America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for being astutely political and informative. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking fallacies and mistruths promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose journalists and politicians for their failure to inform and serve the public. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>.<br> <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience and allows them to promote their other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that viewers of T''he Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs relative to viewers of other newscasts. <ref>Steve Benen, Washington Monthly, April 21st, 2010:fckLRhhttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>. &nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br />
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The Daily Show fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;<br> '''<br>'''In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity."<br />
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=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
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South Park is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. <br />
The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through "The Terence and Philip Show", a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. <br />
South Park is computer animated. The animations are very simplistic, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look. <br />
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South Park's target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of South Park opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Muhammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit <ref>http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref> <br> <br />
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Cultural Meaning <br />
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'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
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(1997) <br />
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Scheduling:&nbsp; <br />
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Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.''<br> <br />
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Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
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That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1023Comedy Central2010-11-05T05:52:57Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* South Park (1996-Present) */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and has elevated anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics, America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for being astutely political and informative. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking fallacies and mistruths promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose journalists and politicians for their failure to inform and serve the public. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>.<br> <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience and allows them to promote their other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that viewers of T''he Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs relative to viewers of other newscasts. <ref>Steve Benen, Washington Monthly, April 21st, 2010:fckLRhhttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>. &nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br />
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The Daily Show fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;<br> '''<br>'''In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity."<br />
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=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
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South Park is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. <br />
The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through "The Terence and Philip Show", a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. <br />
South Park is computer animated. The animations are quite simple, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look. <br />
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South Park's target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of South Park opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Muhammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit <ref>http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref> <br> <br />
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Cultural Meaning <br />
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'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
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(1997) <br />
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Scheduling:&nbsp; <br />
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Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.''<br> <br />
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Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
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That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=1022Comedy Central2010-11-05T05:52:17Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* South Park (1996-Present) */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
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'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
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Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
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==== General Trends ====<br />
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Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
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== Textual Analysis ==<br />
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=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
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''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, Stewart usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and has elevated anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics, America (The Book) and Earth (The Book). <br />
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''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for being astutely political and informative. &nbsp; The show offers an insightful take on the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as attacking fallacies and mistruths promoted by the news media. ''The Daily Show '' is first and foremost a comedy show, not a newscast, but often the lines are blurred. Stewart and his correspondents use satire to expose journalists and politicians for their failure to inform and serve the public. The comedic approach often lessens the severity of the attacks launched on the show. Humor also allows Stewart to provide a counterbalance to the traditional news reporter. ''The Daily Show '' holds the traditional broadcast media accountable in four ways: pointing our falsehoods, noting inconsistencies, highlighting the trivial and absurd and noting where traditional journalistic routines result in bias. <ref>Chad Painter, August 4th, 2010 "The Fifth Estate: A textual analysis of how The Daily Show holds the watchdogs accountable"</ref>.<br> <br />
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Males between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers for ''The Daily Show ''. This correlates with what Comedy Centrals aims for as its target audience and allows them to promote their other programs during the show. On the whole, however, the program attracts viewers from a wider spread demographic. The common thread between the viewers is an interest in politics and the desire for a program that doesn't follow the usual conventions of network news. ''The Daily Show '' viewership is often seen as highly intellectual and informed. In fact, A Pew Research Study from 2007 found that viewers of T''he Daily Show'' and ''The Colbert Report'' had the highest knowledge of national and international affairs relative to viewers of other newscasts. <ref>Steve Benen, Washington Monthly, April 21st, 2010:fckLRhhttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023446.php</ref>. &nbsp;During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers. This made the “Daily Show” the first program that wasn’t “The Tonight Show” or“The Late Show with David Letterman” to do so since at least 2000. The feat can be attributed in large part to President Obama's recent appearance on the program and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br />
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The Daily Show fits in perfectly with what Comedy Central is trying to portray as a cable network, all comedy, all the time. &nbsp;<br> '''<br>'''In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show''. The addition of ''The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late-night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block. During this time slot, most of the viewers who are still up are not looking for a serious program this late in the night; they are looking for something light and humorous to relax to and Comedy Central takes advantage of this time slot to provide viewers with ''The Daily Show''. &nbsp;And with this setup and of ''The Daily Show ''and ''The Colbert Report'', with it's similarity in formats, Comedy Central is able to keep the viewers through both shows as they are able to balance each other out. &nbsp;While ''The Daily Show ''"spoofs" the headlines of that day along with those anchors and reporters who deliver them, ''The Colbert Show'' will mock those who have become household names with interviews and analyses.What viewers don't get from one show, the other can make up for it.<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "Daily Show Personality Gets His Own Platform." 4 May 2005. The New York Times. Web. 4 Nov 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html</ref> &nbsp;With Stephen Colbert as a previous member of ''The Daily Show'' crew, Comedy Central is able to carry the familiarity of his character to lead into a new show. &nbsp;And when ''The Colbert Repor''t was being developed, Comedy Central had considered having ''The Daily Show ''end with Stewart sharing a split-screen with Mr. Colbert, mocking the "throw" or "toss" technique used in the news industry. &nbsp;This would have the effect that ''The Daily Show'' will carry on another half hour, drawing and keeping the audience in with the show. ''&nbsp;The Daily Show has ''done this with The Colbert Report and this relationship between the two shows have allowed Comedy Central to expand with its collaboration of recent election coverage (Comedy Central's ''Indecision) ''and the "Rally to Restore Sanity."<br />
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=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
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South Park is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. <br />
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The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. The show pokes fun at small town life and values and heavily trails on popular culture. Celebrities and cultural phenomenons are often the back end of jokes. This has often led to controversies which The show references this through "The Terence and Philip Show", a show within the show, which the main characters watch, providing self-reflective satire. <br />
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South Park is computer animated. The animations are quite simple, often creating a paper cut look which adds to the primitive sense of humor the show tries to invoke and has given the programming a unique look. <br />
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South Park's target audience is aligned with the target audience for the rest of Comedy Central's programming. Once again 18-34 year old males make up the bulk of the viewership. The show has achieved incredible success since its inception through its unique blend of dark humor and a "take no prisoners" brand of satire. Each episode of South Park opens with the disclaimer that, "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone"<ref>http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php</ref> Establishing such a warning at the start of each program allows the writers to constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable to make fun of on television. This has frequently gotten the show in trouble, sparking famous controversies such as the "Muhammed" controversy which sparked international backlash for the shows depiction of the Islamic prophet dressed in a bear suit <ref>http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Malaysian_Islamists_want_apology_from_South_Park_P108414/</ref> <br> <br />
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Cultural Meaning <br />
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'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
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(1997) <br />
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Scheduling:&nbsp; <br />
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Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.''<br> <br />
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Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
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That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=931Comedy Central2010-11-05T01:24:54Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* South Park (1996-Present) */</p>
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<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
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== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
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=== History and Ownership ===<br />
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Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
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=== Marketing ===<br />
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==== Target Audiences ====<br />
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Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
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==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
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With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
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Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
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==== Branding<br> ====<br />
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Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
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Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
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==== Partnerships ====<br />
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In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
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Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
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Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
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=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
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==== Current Programming ====<br />
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'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
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premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
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'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
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premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
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'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and has elevated anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics, America (The Book) and Earth (The Book).<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. &nbsp;Because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news/politics, ''The Daily Show'' is able to provide&nbsp;an alternate take on the news, appealing to those simply looking for entertainment programming. &nbsp;Unlike news sources, ''The Daily Show'' does not have to worry about objectivity, taking journalistic approaches, or even the practice of accuracy. &nbsp;Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, correlating with what Comedy Centrals aims for as at target audience. During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers in this demo. This record might in large parts be attributed to President Obama's appearance and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Ralley to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
<br />
'''<br>'''<br />
''<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;</span>''<br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp;<br><br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
South Park is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. <br />
<br />
The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. Other characters&nbsp; <br />
<br />
<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Cultural Meaning <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Scheduling:&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.''<br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=928Comedy Central2010-11-05T01:17:44Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* South Park (1996-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and has elevated anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics, America (The Book) and Earth (The Book).<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. &nbsp;Because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news/politics, ''The Daily Show'' is able to provide&nbsp;an alternate take on the news, appealing to those simply looking for entertainment programming. &nbsp;Unlike news sources, ''The Daily Show'' does not have to worry about objectivity, taking journalistic approaches, or even the practice of accuracy. &nbsp;Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, correlating with what Comedy Centrals aims for as at target audience. During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers in this demo. This record might in large parts be attributed to President Obama's appearance and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Ralley to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
<br />
'''<br>'''<br />
''<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;</span>''<br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp;<br><br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
Background/Concept<br />
South Park is half-hour animated comedy produced in-house by Comedy Central. The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone based on two animated shorts from 1992 and 1995. Comedy Central approached them with the idea of turning these shorts into a series for the network. The show revolves around a group of kids named Stan, Eric, Kyle and Kenny who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. <br />
<br />
<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br> <br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Cultural Meaning<br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Scheduling:&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.''<br><br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=915Comedy Central2010-11-05T00:43:15Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* The Daily Show (1996-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. The show has been a launching pad for faux pundit Stephen Colbert and has elevated anchor Jon Stewart's career beyond the show's success. He hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and has published two non-fiction books on politics, America (The Book) and Earth (The Book).<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. &nbsp;Because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news/politics, ''The Daily Show'' is able to provide&nbsp;an alternate take on the news, appealing to those simply looking for entertainment programming. &nbsp;Unlike news sources, ''The Daily Show'' does not have to worry about objectivity, taking journalistic approaches, or even the practice of accuracy. &nbsp;Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, correlating with what Comedy Centrals aims for as at target audience. During the last week of October 2010,&nbsp;''The Daily Show'' for the first time finished as the highest-rated late-night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers in this demo. This record might in large parts be attributed to President Obama's appearance and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Ralley to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
<br />
'''<br>'''<br />
''<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp;</span>''<br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, the airing of'''&nbsp;'''''The Colbert Report&nbsp;''right after ''The Daily Show'' would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp;<br><br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
Background/Concept<br />
<br />
<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br> <br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Cultural Meaning<br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Scheduling:&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.''<br><br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=899Comedy Central2010-11-04T23:38:53Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. &nbsp;Because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news/politics, ''The Daily Show'' is able to provide&nbsp;an alternate take on the news, appealing to those simply looking for entertainment programming. &nbsp;Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, correlating with what Comedy Centrals aims for as at target audience. During the last week of October 2010 The Daily Show for the first time finished as the highest-rated late night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers in this demo. This record might in large parts be attributed to President Obama's appearence and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Ralley to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:fckLRhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br> <br />
<br />
'''analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?''' <br />
<br />
<br> '''How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''(I've got some notes on this section. will work on this offsite. -alice)'''<br> <br />
<br />
Before Jon Stewart took over, ''The Daily Show'' was hosted by Craig Kilborn.&nbsp; The<br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
'''How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?''' <br />
<br />
In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth.&nbsp; <br> <br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, the airing of&nbsp;''T''''he Colbert Report'''''<b>right after ''The Daily Show ''would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp;</b><br><br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br>How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?<br>How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?<br> <br />
<br />
the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.'' <br />
<br />
The buzz surrounding ''South Park'' is still heaviest on college campuses and in other places where young viewers congregate. Mr. Cole said the median age of ''South Park'' viewers was 25. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=898Comedy Central2010-11-04T23:38:13Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* The Daily Show (1996-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late-night program that is produced by and aired on the Comedy Central cable network. &nbsp;''The Daily Show'' airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11pm, with a half-hour format combining the elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion, he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them. <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is commonly referred to as "fake news," but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. &nbsp;Because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news/politics, ''The Daily Show'' is able to provide&nbsp;an alternate take on the news, appealing to those simply looking for entertainment programming. &nbsp;Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, correlating with what Comedy Centrals aims for as at target audience. During the last week of October 2010 The Daily Show for the first time finished as the highest-rated late night program in the key demographic 18-49, averaging 1.3 million viewers froms this demo. This record might in large parts be attributed to President Obama's appearence and the media attention surrounding Jon Stewart's "Ralley to Restore Sanity".<ref>Sean O'Neal, A.V. Club, November 4th, 2010:<br />
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-daily-show-tops-letterman-and-leno-for-the-fir,47237/</ref>.<br><br />
<br />
'''analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?''' <br />
<br />
<br> '''How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''(I've got some notes on this section. will work on this offsite. -alice)'''<br> <br />
<br />
Before Jon Stewart took over, ''The Daily Show'' was hosted by Craig Kilborn.&nbsp; The<br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
'''How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?''' <br />
<br />
In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth.&nbsp; <br> <br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, the airing of&nbsp;''T''''he Colbert Report'''''<b>right after ''The Daily Show ''would allow&nbsp;Comedy Central to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp;</b><br><br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br>How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?<br>How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?<br> <br />
<br />
the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.'' <br />
<br />
The buzz surrounding ''South Park'' is still heaviest on college campuses and in other places where young viewers congregate. Mr. Cole said the median age of ''South Park'' viewers was 25. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=884Comedy Central2010-11-04T20:59:48Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* The Daily Show (1996-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
The Daily Show airs mondays through thursdays at 11pm. It is a half-hour format that combines elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them.<br />
<br />
It is commonly referred to as "fake news" but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, which correlates with the comedy centrals aimed at target audience. The majority of viewers are from urban areas and educated above average.<br />
<br />
'''analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?''' <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late night program that is produced by and airs on the Comedy Central cable network. ''The Daily Show ''provides an alternate take on the news; because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news and politices, the show appeals to those simply looking for entertainment programming.&nbsp;'''<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?''' <br />
<br />
'''How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''(I've got some notes on this section. will work on this after 4. -alice)'''<br><br />
<br />
Before Jon Stewart took over, ''The Daily Show'' was hosted by Craig Kilborn.&nbsp; The<br><br />
<br />
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2008/04/qa_with_daily_show_creator_liz.php<br><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
'''How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?''' <br />
<br />
In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth.&nbsp; <br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, airing T''he Colbert Report'' right after The Daily Show, Comedy Central would be able to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
'''the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them'''<br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br>How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?<br>How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?<br> <br />
<br />
the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.'' <br />
<br />
The buzz surrounding ''South Park'' is still heaviest on college campuses and in other places where young viewers congregate. Mr. Cole said the median age of ''South Park'' viewers was 25. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=883Comedy Central2010-11-04T20:59:29Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* The Daily Show (1996-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
The Daily Show airs mondays through thursdays at 11pm. It is a half-hour format that combines elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them.<br />
It is commonly referred to as "fake news" but has also been noted for having considerable political and informative value. Male viewers between 18 and 34 make up the largest chunk of viewers, which correlates with the comedy centrals aimed at target audience. The majority of viewers are from urban areas and educated above average.<br />
<br />
'''analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?''' <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late night program that is produced by and airs on the Comedy Central cable network. ''The Daily Show ''provides an alternate take on the news; because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news and politices, the show appeals to those simply looking for entertainment programming.&nbsp;'''<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?''' <br />
<br />
'''How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''(I've got some notes on this section. will work on this after 4. -alice)'''<br><br />
<br />
Before Jon Stewart took over, ''The Daily Show'' was hosted by Craig Kilborn.&nbsp; The<br><br />
<br />
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2008/04/qa_with_daily_show_creator_liz.php<br><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
'''How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?''' <br />
<br />
In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth.&nbsp; <br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, airing T''he Colbert Report'' right after The Daily Show, Comedy Central would be able to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
'''the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them'''<br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br>How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?<br>How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?<br> <br />
<br />
the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.'' <br />
<br />
The buzz surrounding ''South Park'' is still heaviest on college campuses and in other places where young viewers congregate. Mr. Cole said the median age of ''South Park'' viewers was 25. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=879Comedy Central2010-11-04T20:49:07Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* The Daily Show (1996-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
The Daily Show airs mondays through thursdays at 11pm. It is a half-hour format that combines elements of late-night talk shows and traditional newscast. The show is filmed live-to-tape in front of a live audience. The show begins with host/anchor Jon Stewart commenting on current political developments. He usually often talks to faux commentators and pundits. Following the news portion he usually welcomes guests, some of which are actual journalists, analysts or politicians (most recently President Obama) but also entertainers and celebrities. The program frequently uses actual clips and news footage and satirically comments on or mocks them.<br />
'''analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?''' <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late night program that is produced by and airs on the Comedy Central cable network. ''The Daily Show ''provides an alternate take on the news; because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news and politices, the show appeals to those simply looking for entertainment programming.&nbsp;'''<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?''' <br />
<br />
'''How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''(I've got some notes on this section. will work on this after 4. -alice)'''<br><br />
<br />
Before Jon Stewart took over, ''The Daily Show'' was hosted by Craig Kilborn.&nbsp; The<br><br />
<br />
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2008/04/qa_with_daily_show_creator_liz.php<br><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
'''How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?''' <br />
<br />
In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth.&nbsp; <br> <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
As''The Daily Show'' is competing with other late night shows on the networks, airing T''he Colbert Report'' right after The Daily Show, Comedy Central would be able to keep the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
'''the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them'''<br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br>How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?<br>How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?<br> <br />
<br />
the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997) <br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.'' <br />
<br />
The buzz surrounding ''South Park'' is still heaviest on college campuses and in other places where young viewers congregate. Mr. Cole said the median age of ''South Park'' viewers was 25. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=806Comedy Central2010-11-03T21:10:29Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* The Daily Show (1995-Present) */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== Industrial Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== History and Ownership ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.225 billion.<ref>CBS News. "Viacom Buys All of Comedy Central" April 22, 2003. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/entertainment/main550489.shtml</ref> Today, Comedy Central is owned and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks. Comedy Central is an essential part of MTV Netowork's growing cable portfolio that also includes MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land. <ref>Comedy Central. "COMEDY CENTRAL® RECORDS HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY WITH RECORD RATINGS AND DELIVERY." Web. 08 Sept 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_release/2010/090810_summer_ratings.jhtml</ref> The current President of the Channel, Michele Ganeless who has been in her role since 2007. Former President Doug Herzog, who now is the president of all of MTV Networks, said about Gainless, "She’s one of the key architects of Comedy Central and she’s one of the true leaders to take it into its next phase.” <ref>Broadcasting and Cable. "Ganeless Named Comedy Central President." Web. 05 Sept 2007. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99239-Ganeless_Named_Comedy_Central_President.php</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central first showed up on American Televisions on April 1, 1991. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew and successful programming such as "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and "Short Attention Span Theater," became staples for the channel. 1993 saw the premier of "Out There," the first ever all-gay comedy television special. They furthered their trailblazing ways with original programming such as "Win Ben Stein's Money" a popular game show before the days of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The 90's also saw the channel have success with acquired programming such as "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Though they received a smaller budget from Viacom and Time Warner than other channels, such as MTV and HBO, they consequently were given more freedom for programming. This allowed for the development of crude shows such as "South Park", which in 1998, received an 8.6 rating, the highest rated series episode in basic cable history at the time. <ref>Comedy Central. "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY COMEDY CENTRAL® THE ALL–COMEDY NETWORK CELEBRATES A LANDMARK DECADE OF LAUGHS ON APRIL 1" 2001 Mar 2001. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2001/031201_10th_Anniversary.jhtml</ref> Comedy Central has become more mainstream in the 21st century with its use of political satire on hit talk shows: "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"; and the cutting edge clip show "Tosh.o". Comedy Central has continued to keep up with market innovation debuting Comedy Central HD in January of 2009. <ref>Multi Channel News. "Comedy Central Launches HDTV Network" 13 Jan 2009. Web. http://www.multichannel.com/article/162078-Comedy_Central_Launches_HDTV_Network.php</ref> The channel has also extended itself to ten localized international markets, including Germany, Italy, the UK, and starting in 2011, Israel. <ref>C21 Media. "Comedy Central Heads to Israel" 29 Jul 2010. Web. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&amp;amp;amp;article=56709</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Marketing ===<br />
<br />
==== Target Audiences ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers of Comedy Central are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Comedy Central aired the two highest-rated original series on basic cable in the age group 18-34 among the men with South Park and The Sarah Silverman Project. (2008)&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/08profileData/08_pdfs/COMEDYCENTRAL.pdf</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shows like South Park has gained an wider audience than it's intended target audience of 18-39 males; the age now ranges from&nbsp;16-50, which males aged 18-24 still claiming top spot.<ref>"South Park." Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.cplg.com/properties/view/7</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp;Though South Park carries a parental guidance rating of TV-MA for mature audiences 17 and up, there ''are''&nbsp;censored episodes which are rated TV-14 to reach the younger teens.&nbsp;<br> <br />
<br />
==== Advertising &amp; Promotion ====<br />
<br />
With constant promotions and reminders of upcoming shows, Comedy Central is able to reach viewers through the popular social networkings of Facebook, Twitter, etc. &nbsp;Comedy Central has expanded to the mobile web, offering accessibility to the Website, providing stand-ups and jokes along with South Park exclusives all on your mobile phone. &nbsp;Besides reaching out through the mobile web, Comedy Central has also taken mobile applications&nbsp;under their belt. Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has pushed out a Daily Show widget that can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, blogs and anywhere else on the Web. This widget carries a minute-long recap of the previous night's show, with the idea in mind that it'll spread the clips throughout the Internet and not force users to have to go to TheDailyShow.com. With the use of&nbsp;promotional time during The Daily Show to advertise, Comedy Central hopes to gain more audiences through these 60-second clips.&nbsp;<ref>Morrisey, Brian. "Comedy Central Crafts 'Daily Show' Highlights Reel." 04 Nov 2009. Adweek.com. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3ia2169144d2207c0aeabff4e2c3f73469</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
==== Branding<br> ====<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 06 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to do this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now." <br />
<br />
==== Partnerships ====<br />
<br />
In 2007, Comedy Central began a partnership with American Greetings to prove a new line of greeting cards starring the characters of South Park. &nbsp;This deal also allowed for future Comedy Central show based cards. &nbsp;American Greetings' licensing chief, Michael Brown said, "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way." &nbsp;An American Greetings research project had spent 6 months looking at the differences between men and women on what is funny with the Comedy Central cards are being created with men in mind.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Hits Greeting Cards." USA Today. 13 Sep 2007. Web. 05 Oct 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-13-south-park-cards_N.htm</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
Hoping to bring the laughter overseas to USA's military troops, Comedy Central has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to create "PVT Jokes." &nbsp;Comedy kits, including Comedy Central DVD titles, will be reached out to more than 200 forward operating bases and U.S. military hospitals both at home and overseas. &nbsp;This is the second partnership between Comedy Central and USO which had formally brought "The Colbert Report" to Iraq on a USO tour (2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando).&nbsp;<ref>"COMEDY CENTRAL® Partners With The USO For New Military Outreach Program." Comedy Central. 01 Sep 2009. Web. 07 Oct 2010. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/090109_pvt_jokes.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is now in partnership with Don Mischer Productions to revive the once annual “American Comedy Awards," last taken place in 2001. &nbsp;It will honor and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. &nbsp;The "American Comedy Awards" are scheduled to premiere in 2010 and will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels including the Comedy Central network, Spike TV and TV Land.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Signature Programing and General Trends ===<br />
<br />
==== Current Programming ====<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey. "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. 7 Oct 2010. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa. "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture. Oct 2009. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Gorman, Bill. "Comedy Central Records Hottest Summer Ratings in History." TV By The Numbers. Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>"Daily Show, Colbert Get Renewed." United Press International, Inc. 20 Apr 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official Website. Web. http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>"South Park: Bigger Longer &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Uncut." IMDB.com. Web. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press. Aug 2005. Web. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Gorman, Bill. Sep 2010. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
==== General Trends ====<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website. Web. http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref> <br />
<br />
== Textual Analysis ==<br />
<br />
=== The Daily Show (1996-Present)<br> ===<br />
<br />
'''analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?''' <br />
<br />
''The Daily Show ''is a late night program that is produced by and airs on the Comedy Central cable network. ''The Daily Show ''provides an alternate take on the news; because it is so easy for viewers to ignore what's going on with the news and politices, the show appeals to those simply looking for entertainment programming.&nbsp;'''<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?''' <br />
<br />
'''How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>''' <br />
<br />
'''How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?''' <br />
<br />
In 2005, Comedy Central launched ''The Colbert Report'', a spin-off show from ''The Daily Show. &nbsp;''The addition of''&nbsp;The Colbert Report'' to the cable's lineup is an attempt by Comedy Central to update and redo its late-night schedule hoping to increase its viewership in the youth. &nbsp; <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Similarities/differences &amp; how the shows play off each other&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
With these two shows running back-to-back, Comedy Central probably wants to hold the viewership during the 11-midnight block.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
'''the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them'''<br />
<br />
=== South Park (1996-Present) ===<br />
<br />
analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report.<br>How does it construct its target audience?<br>How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand?<br>How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure?<br>How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies?<br> <br />
<br />
the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them <br />
<br />
'''Notes: (NY Times Article)&nbsp;'''<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61239F933A25752C1A961958260&amp;amp;sec=&amp;amp;spon=&amp;amp;pagewanted=2</ref> <br />
<br />
(1997)<br />
<br />
Already, the shows after ''South Park,'' including a nightly takeoff on the news called ''The Daily Show,'' have seen huge jumps in their ratings when ''South Park'' leads into them. ''We had already been ticking up,'' said Doug Herzog, the channel's president. ''This show is kind of like adding jet fuel.'' <br />
<br />
The buzz surrounding ''South Park'' is still heaviest on college campuses and in other places where young viewers congregate. Mr. Cole said the median age of ''South Park'' viewers was 25. <br />
<br />
Comedy Central is also counting on ''South Park'' to extend the distribution of the channel, which now reaches 46 million homes. ''I think this can help drive us to the 60 million mark,'' Mr. Herzog said. <br />
<br />
That sort of growth would make Comedy Central a far more valuable asset to its owners, Viacom and Time Warner Inc. In the meantime, they can count the profits from what is shaping up as the next big merchandising bonanza related to a TV show.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=334Comedy Central2010-10-07T22:07:53Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)fckLRhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):fckLRhttp://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>April 2010:fckLRhttp://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official page:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>Imdb.com fckLRhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing''' <br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press (August 2005):fckLRhttp://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref> Comedienne Sarah Silverman brought The Sarah Silverman Program (2007-2010) to Comedy central which enjoyed considerable success and earned her an Emmy nomination in 2009. <ref>Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central Offical Site<br />
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref> Recently Daniel Tosh has emerged as one of the networks most successful new stars. His show Tosh.O (2009-) draws up to 3 million viewers per episode.&nbsp;<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):<br />
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sarah_silverman_program/about/index.jhtml</ref><br />
<br />
As most Cable networks do, Comedy Central rebroadcasts many of its programs throughout the week. The network also airs specials of stand-up comedians and feature films. <br />
<br />
=== General Trends ===<br />
<br />
Since its launch Comedy Central has established itself as a popular destination for young male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Most of their shows rely less on concept but rather the personalities of their stars. These Stars such as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert have branched into other lucrative venues (books, high-profile appearences on other networks) and by that have helped to raise Comedy Centrals profile. Comedy Central has catered to the internet affinity of its young male audience by offering a lot of content such as clips and even full episodes on their website before this practice was as common as it now is.<ref>Official Website:<br />
http://www.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=331Comedy Central2010-10-07T21:41:44Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)fckLRhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):fckLRhttp://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>April 2010:fckLRhttp://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official page:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>Imdb.com fckLRhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''Other notable Shows and Programing'''<br />
<br />
Comedy Central produced several shows of commercial and cultural significance throughout the 2000s. Chapelle's Show (2003-2006) was a critical and ratings success alike but ended when the show's star Dave Chapelle exited despite being renewed for a third season. <ref>Associated Press (August 2005):<br />
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8814168</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=327Comedy Central2010-10-07T21:05:07Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)fckLRhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):fckLRhttp://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>April 2010:fckLRhttp://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated scripted show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official page:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;program=south+park&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>Imdb.com fckLRhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=326Comedy Central2010-10-07T21:04:32Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)fckLRhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):fckLRhttp://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>April 2010:fckLRhttp://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and highest-rated show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done, ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series.<ref>Primetime Emmys Official page:<br />
http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;program=south+park&amp;start_year=1949&amp;end_year=2010&amp;network=All&amp;web_category=All&amp;winner=All</ref> In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, Bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <ref>Imdb.com <br />
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158983/</ref><br><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=318Comedy Central2010-10-07T20:47:30Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)fckLRhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):fckLRhttp://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>April 2010:fckLRhttp://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and still highest-rated show. The show is currently airing its 14th Season and airs everyday of the week in various timeslots, only during prime time and nighttime though. So far more than 200 episodes have been produced. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done since ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers. The Show has won four Emmys for Outstanding Animated Series. In 1999 a feature film was released: South Park: Longer, bigger &amp; Uncut, which grossed more than 80 million Dollars. <br><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=293Comedy Central2010-10-07T19:18:40Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night, a level the show has since then maintained. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)fckLRhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. Currently the show averages about 1.5 million viewers per night.<ref>Bill Gorman (September 2010):<br />
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref>&nbsp; The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012.<ref>April 2010:<br />
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park (1997-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1997 and is Comedy Central's longest-running and still highest-rated show. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the animated series is set in the fictional town of South Park. The show features various character but mostly revolves around a group of young boys. South Park pokes fun at controversial topics, mocks celebrities and is known for its profane humour. It was an instant success and drew record numbers during its first three seasons. As buzz died done since ratings have somewhat eroded but the show continues to attract an average audience of over 3 million viewers.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=291Comedy Central2010-10-07T19:01:42Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:fckLRhttp://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;amp;program=daily+show&amp;amp;start_year=1949&amp;amp;end_year=2010&amp;amp;network=All&amp;amp;web_category=All&amp;amp;winner=AllfckLRAccessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br> <br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a news correspondant. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News.<ref>Coletta, Lisa: "Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart" in: The Journal of Popular Culture (October 2009)<br />
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00711.x/full</ref> It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012. <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
'''South Park '''<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=286Comedy Central2010-10-07T18:52:20Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* Current Programming */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in 1990 after Time Warner merged Comedy Channel, which had been part of HBO, with Viacom's, MTV Network's "Ha!". The new channel was owned 50/50 by Time Warner and Viacom. Throughout the 90's the popularity of the channel grew rapidly. Originally the channel was known as CTV, but following a dispute with the Canadian Network CTV, the channel was re branded as Comedy Central. Though its budget was smaller than other channels of the parent companies, such as MTV and HBO, the channel was given more freedom. As a result, the channel, through original programming such as "South Park", became known for its crude brand of humor. In April of 2003 Viacom bought out Time Warner's (now AOL Time Warner) 50% stake in the channel for $1.23 billion. Comedy Central joined Viacom's growing cable line-up that also included MTV, Nickelodeon, VH-1 and TV Land.<br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses paid search to build brand association around its prize program assets. &nbsp;It buys Google ads for searches for shows such as South Park. &nbsp;Comedy Central is paying for ‘association.’ Besides trying to gain viewers of the show, they are trying to establish loyalty around the web-based services that relate to the shows. &nbsp;Claudia Setini-Samuels, head of branding and online "It’s unusual for a channel to this but it makes sense. We’re tracking what’s being searched for based around comedy and that will have a direct influence on our content – the site must be based on what people are looking for right now."&nbsp;<ref>Warner, Roger. "Paid Search and Comedy Central." Content and Motion. 12 Apr 2009. Web. http://www.contentandmotion.co.uk/social-media-pr-blog/paid-search-and-comedy-central-branding-lessons-from-google</ref><br> <br />
<br />
Comedy Central also looks to reach viewers through mobile applications. &nbsp;Comedy Central was using a SMS/text-based delivery jokes service before they developed an iPhone app that allows users to subscribe to their Joke of the Day service through the downloadable application.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central's Joke of the Day iPhone App Launches." Method, Inc. 17 Jul 2009. http://method.com/news/briefs/detail/News/67</ref><br> <br> <br />
<br />
=== Branding<br> ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central, known as the only all-comedy network, is the #1 provider of surprising, laugh-out-loud programming. Comedy Central "connects with a young adult audience thirsting for fearless, outrageous originals with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, South Park, The Colbert Report....along with stand-up specials and can't-miss events like the annual Comedy Central Roast."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;Comedy Central's original programs help with the reinventing of classic genres such as news, animation, and comedy variety. &nbsp;Along with Comedy Central's airing of their blockbuster&nbsp;Roasts and annual Last Laugh, the network also offers original specials and stunt programming that viewers won’t find anywhere else.<br />
<br />
=== Specific Partnerships ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central has partnered with live entertainment firms such as Live Nation. The partnership includes the launch of "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," in House of Blues venues nationwide. Live Nation has said the cooperations have drawn more than 1 million fans to Comedy Central-branded tours. And Senior VP of Comedy Central Live Entertainment, Mitch Fried, said "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." As a part of the deal, Comedy Central will be integrated throughout the venues and retail shops of the House of Blues, including that of on and off stage, and also in show marketing. Comedy Central, likewise, will give advertisers the opportunity to become official sponsors of the comedic series.&nbsp;<ref>Szalai, Georg. "Comedy Central, Live Nation Expand Deal." Hollywood Reporter. 18 Feb 2010. Web. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iedf10d16b35b1c7a99438012c2e2a652</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest." <ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jon_got_game_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref> The show has garned broad critical acclaim and has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year since 2003, for a total of seven wins.<ref>Primetime Emmys,Official Website:<br />
http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&amp;program=daily+show&amp;start_year=1949&amp;end_year=2010&amp;network=All&amp;web_category=All&amp;winner=All<br />
Accessed: 10/7/10 (3.05pm)</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''The Colbert Report (2005-)'''<br />
<br />
premiered in the fall of 2005. It is a spin-off from The Daily Show, where Stephen Colbert had previously contributed as a pundit. Colbert's on-screen persona is widely seen as a parody right-wing commentator Bill O'Reilly. Subsequently, The Colbert Report is mocking his Show "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News. It airs Monday through Thursday at 11.30 pm following The Daily Show and usually retains most of its lead-in audience. Reruns are several times a day. Like Jon Stewart, Colbert fares particularly well with male audiences in the 18-34 demographic. The Colbert Report has been renewed through December 2012. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''South Park '''<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=198Comedy Central2010-10-06T20:45:55Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
<br />
Comedy Central was launched in April of 1991 following a merger between Time Warner and Viacom. The merger occurred when HBO, owned by Time Warner, combined its comedy channel with MTV Network's comedy channel "HA!". <br />
<br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central uses a variety of platforms including TV, print online, and mobile to get the word out. Back in 2005, Comedy Central was promoting a new show 'Stella,' through the uses of "influencer" mailings from Cornerstone Marketing (New York), street teams, at clubs and bars, and among other places. Comedy Central also gave Verizon Wireless members preview clips of the show and ran text-based tune-in alerts for Sprint PCS users. &nbsp;Glenn Ginsburg, formal VP of interactive ad sales, said, "Working cross-platform maximizes the reach for an audience, especially with Stella. Hopefully, this will generate a lot of interest."&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central Stellabration." BrandWeek. 13 Jun 2005. Web. http://www.brandweek.com/bw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000955399</ref> <br />
<br />
=== Branding Strategies<br> ===<br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)''' <br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>Starr, Michael. New York Post. 25 Sep 2008. Web. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO;jsessionid=E277DD27FAB42B849582541FC9AB5BED</ref> <ref>Gorman, Bill. TV By The Numbers. 8 Sep 2010. Web. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>United Press International, Inc. April 2010. Web. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>"Official Homepage." The Daily Show. http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Comedy_Central&diff=192Comedy Central2010-10-06T20:05:27Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* Current Programming */</p>
<hr />
<div>= <big>'''Comedy Central'''</big> =<br />
<br />
== History and Ownership ==<br />
Comedy Central was launched in April of 1991 following a merger between Time Warner and Viacom. The merger occurred when HBO, owned by Time Warner, combined its comedy channel with MTV Network's comedy channel "HA!". <br />
== Marketing ==<br />
<br />
=== Target Audiences ===<br />
<br />
Comedy Central's targets audiences ranging from the ages of 18-49, highly concentrating on adults and men. Viewers are not distracted easily, ranking Comedy Central among the top cable networks in key demos where the viewers are "paying full attention” to its programs.&nbsp;<ref>"Comedy Central: Profile Data" Cable Television Advertising Bureau. Web. 4 Oct 2010. http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/networkprofile10.php?type=network&amp;amp;amp;ID=18</ref>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
=== Advertising Strategies ===<br />
<br />
=== Branding Strategies ===<br />
<br />
=== Scheduling &amp; Promotional Techniques ===<br />
<br />
== Signature Programing and General Trends ==<br />
<br />
=== Current Programming ===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''The Daily Show (1996-)'''<br />
<br />
premiered in the summer of 1996 and was initially hosted by Craig Kilbourn. In 1999 Jon Stewart who had previously worked at MTV news took over as the show's anchor. The Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm. Episodes are reaired several times during the week during daytime. Even though the show is dubbed "fake news" it has been recognized as an influential political commentary.&nbsp;<ref>Baym, Geoffrey: "The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the reinvention of Political Journalism."</ref> During the period of the 2008 presidential election the show averaged about 2 million viewers every night. The show fares particularly well with male audiences from 18-34. <ref>MICHAEL STARR (September 25, 2008):<br />
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_ARuthNhfEW09txbCOTBNkO;jsessionid=E277DD27FAB42B849582541FC9AB5BED<br />
New York Post</ref> <ref>Bill Gorman (September 8, 2010):<br />
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/with-the-daily-show-the-colbert-report-tosh-0-comedy-central-records-hottest-summer-ratings-in-history/62579</ref> The show is currently renewed through June 2013.<ref>April 2010:<br />
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/04/20/Daily-Show-Colbert-get-renewed/UPI-86201271802856/</ref>&nbsp; The show's structure is a mixture of newscast and late night talkshow. Stewart discusses current political events and features "mock" political commentators as well as real pundits. The show also features guests outside the political arena such as actors and musicians.<ref>Official Homepage: <br />
http://www.thedailyshow.com/</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Group_Projects&diff=38Group Projects2010-09-17T13:25:23Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>This semester-long assignment will focus on applying course concepts to a specific television channel. Each group will select a case study from the list below, and collaborate on three reports analyzing the channel or network. All reports should be between 1,000-1,500 words in length, featuring clear writing and effective source citation. The reports will all be publicly posted on the channel or network's page on this wiki, as linked below. <br />
<br />
== Groups ==<br />
<br />
''Groups are categorized by discussion section (X is 9:05, Y is 10:10, Z is 11:15):''<br />
<br />
X1 - Alex Abarbanel-Grossman / Darkowaa Adu-Kofi / Tara Quinn <br />
<br />
X2 - Talel Ben Jemia / Willie Gevertz / Alice Lin / Alison Siegel <br />
<br />
X3 - Mathieu Castonguay / Giao Dang / Ted Hall / Yuko Teramae <br />
<br />
X4 - Jeff Haswell / Robbie MacDonald / Angie Paulino <br />
<br />
X5 - Ben Kramer / Diana Rodriguez / Matt Yaggy <br />
<br />
<br> Y1 - Lucas Alvarez / Preethi Mangar / Peter DiPrinzio <br />
<br />
Y2 - Lara Andrade / Adam Benay / Michael Crittell <br />
<br />
Y3 - Erin Fuller / Hunter Nolan / Elisabeth Seite <br />
<br />
Y4 - Laura Irei / Amelia Noble / Jack Roberts <br />
<br />
Y5 - Jessie Reniere / Santana Snyder / Dane Steel <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Z1 - Tom Califra / Dani Duggan / Marti Drolet / Liz Gay <br />
<br />
Z2 - Kristoffer Falcones / Brendan Mahoney / Anna Mackey <br />
<br />
Z3 - Ken Grinde / Jenna Meyer / Marina Yakimenko <br />
<br />
Z4 - Jake Herman / Khando Kyi /Tyler Sandoval <br />
<br />
Z5 - Ben Johnston / Redwan Rokon / Laura Noorani<br />
<br />
== Case Studies ==<br />
<br />
Each group should contact each other by email or in-class, and choose one of these channels or networks to serve as their case study. Claim the channel/network by editing this page and typing your group's code next to the title; <br />
<br />
[[ABC Family|&nbsp;ABC Family]] <br />
<br />
[[AMC]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Animal Planet]] <br />
<br />
[[BBC America]] <br />
<br />
[[BET]] <br />
<br />
[[Bravo]] <br />
<br />
[[Cartoon Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[CNN]] <br />
<br />
[[Comedy Central]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CSPAN]]&nbsp;<br />
<br />
[[Discovery Channel]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[Disney Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[E!]] <br />
<br />
[[ESPN]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Food Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Fox News]] <br />
<br />
[[FX]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[G4]] <br />
<br />
[[HBO]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[HDNet]] <br />
<br />
[[IFC]] <br />
<br />
[[Lifetime]] <br />
<br />
[[Logo]] <br />
<br />
[[MSNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[MTV]] <br />
<br />
[[National Geographic]] <br />
<br />
[[NFL Network]] <br />
<br />
[[Nickelodeon]] <br />
<br />
[[Oxygen]] <br />
<br />
[[Showtime]] <br />
<br />
[[Spike TV]] <br />
<br />
[[Starz]] <br />
<br />
[[Sundance Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[SyFy]] <br />
<br />
[[TBS]] <br />
<br />
[[Telemundo]] <br />
<br />
[[TLC]] <br />
<br />
[[TNT]] <br />
<br />
[[TV Land]] <br />
<br />
[[Univision]] <br />
<br />
[[USA]] <br />
<br />
[[VH1]] <br> <br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
== Assignments<br> ==<br />
<br />
=== Report #1: Industrial Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The first report, due by class on October 8, is a discussion of how your channel fits into the industrial context of commercial television. The goal is to create a profile of the channel that highlights the various ways it works within the facets of the television industry that we've discussed in class. You should offer a brief history of the channel to provide some context as to how it emerged into what it is today, but your discussion should focus on the contemporary situation. Aspects of the industry that you might cover include: ownership and conglomeration; specific partnerships with other companies; roles in production / distribution / transmission; branding strategies; specific target audience(s); scheduling and promotional techniques; signature programming and genre trends; advertising strategies; and related channels (like with ESPN / ESPN 2 for instance). While you don't need to touch on every one of these aspects, you should be sure to address the key elements that distinguish this case study, providing a strong overview for understanding how this channel fits into the contemporary teleivsion industry.<br><br />
<br />
=== Report #2: Textual Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The second report, due by class on November 5, is a discussion of two different programs airing on your channel from 2009. You should pick two distinctly different programs in terms of genre, style, tone, production method, or target audience. The selected programs should be originally created for the channel, not a rerun or import. For each program, your job is to analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report. How does it construct its target audience? How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand? How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure? How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies? Ultimately, the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them. The in-class presentation should focus on only one of your selected programs. <br />
<br />
=== Report #3: Audience &amp; Online Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The third report, due by class on November 19, should look how viewers engage with the channel online. Profile what type of online presence the channel has, considering the availability of programming on their own site and/or others, the opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand, what type of online advertising they feature, and how all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile you have written about the channel. Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why? Ideally, you should compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites (either around a specific program or a broader TV site like [http://televisionwithoutpity.com Television Without Pity]). <br />
<br />
The final versions of all three reports are due by class on December 3. You should be sure that references are consistent and clear, that there are appropriate subheadings to navigate the three reports, and that you have proofread and edited the entire report.</div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Group_Projects&diff=37Group Projects2010-09-17T13:24:50Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>This semester-long assignment will focus on applying course concepts to a specific television channel. Each group will select a case study from the list below, and collaborate on three reports analyzing the channel or network. All reports should be between 1,000-1,500 words in length, featuring clear writing and effective source citation. The reports will all be publicly posted on the channel or network's page on this wiki, as linked below. <br />
<br />
== Groups ==<br />
<br />
''Groups are categorized by discussion section (X is 9:05, Y is 10:10, Z is 11:15):''<br />
<br />
X1 - Alex Abarbanel-Grossman / Darkowaa Adu-Kofi / Tara Quinn <br />
<br />
X2 - Talel Ben Jemia / Willie Gevertz / Alice Lin / Alison Siegel <br />
<br />
X3 - Mathieu Castonguay / Giao Dang / Ted Hall / Yuko Teramae <br />
<br />
X4 - Jeff Haswell / Robbie MacDonald / Angie Paulino <br />
<br />
X5 - Ben Kramer / Diana Rodriguez / Matt Yaggy <br />
<br />
<br> Y1 - Lucas Alvarez / Preethi Mangar / Peter DiPrinzio <br />
<br />
Y2 - Lara Andrade / Adam Benay / Michael Crittell <br />
<br />
Y3 - Erin Fuller / Hunter Nolan / Elisabeth Seite <br />
<br />
Y4 - Laura Irei / Amelia Noble / Jack Roberts <br />
<br />
Y5 - Jessie Reniere / Santana Snyder / Dane Steel <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Z1 - Tom Califra / Dani Duggan / Marti Drolet / Liz Gay <br />
<br />
Z2 - Kristoffer Falcones / Brendan Mahoney / Anna Mackey <br />
<br />
Z3 - Ken Grinde / Jenna Meyer / Marina Yakimenko <br />
<br />
Z4 - Jake Herman / Khando Kyi /Tyler Sandoval <br />
<br />
Z5 - Ben Johnston / Redwan Rokon / Laura Noorani<br />
<br />
== Case Studies ==<br />
<br />
Each group should contact each other by email or in-class, and choose one of these channels or networks to serve as their case study. Claim the channel/network by editing this page and typing your group's code next to the title; <br />
<br />
[[ABC Family|&nbsp;ABC Family]] <br />
<br />
[[AMC]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Animal Planet]] <br />
<br />
[[BBC America]] <br />
<br />
[[BET]] <br />
<br />
[[Bravo]] <br />
<br />
[[Cartoon Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[CNN]] <br />
<br />
[[Comedy Central]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CSPAN]]&nbsp;<br />
<br />
[[Discovery Channel]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[Disney Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[E!]] <br />
<br />
[[ESPN]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Food Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Fox News]] <br />
<br />
[[FX]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[G4]] <br />
<br />
[[HBO]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[HDNet]] <br />
<br />
[[IFC]] <br />
<br />
[[Lifetime]] <br />
<br />
[[Logo]] <br />
<br />
[[MSNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[MTV]] <br />
<br />
[[National Geographic]] <br />
<br />
[[NFL Network]] <br />
<br />
[[Nickelodeon]] <br />
<br />
[[Oxygen]] <br />
<br />
[[Showtime]] <br />
<br />
[[Spike TV]] <br />
<br />
[[Starz]] <br />
<br />
[[Sundance Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[SyFy]] <br />
<br />
[[TBS]] <br />
<br />
[[Telemundo]] <br />
<br />
[[TLC]] <br />
<br />
[[TNT]] <br />
<br />
[[TV Land]] <br />
<br />
[[Univision]] <br />
<br />
[[USA]] <br />
<br />
[[VH1]] <br> <br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
== Assignments<br> ==<br />
<br />
=== Report #1: Industrial Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The first report, due by class on October 8, is a discussion of how your channel fits into the industrial context of commercial television. The goal is to create a profile of the channel that highlights the various ways it works within the facets of the television industry that we've discussed in class. You should offer a brief history of the channel to provide some context as to how it emerged into what it is today, but your discussion should focus on the contemporary situation. Aspects of the industry that you might cover include: ownership and conglomeration; specific partnerships with other companies; roles in production / distribution / transmission; branding strategies; specific target audience(s); scheduling and promotional techniques; signature programming and genre trends; advertising strategies; and related channels (like with ESPN / ESPN 2 for instance). While you don't need to touch on every one of these aspects, you should be sure to address the key elements that distinguish this case study, providing a strong overview for understanding how this channel fits into the contemporary teleivsion industry.<ref>Source</ref><br> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Works Cited:<br />
<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
=== Report #2: Textual Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The second report, due by class on November 5, is a discussion of two different programs airing on your channel from 2009. You should pick two distinctly different programs in terms of genre, style, tone, production method, or target audience. The selected programs should be originally created for the channel, not a rerun or import. For each program, your job is to analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report. How does it construct its target audience? How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand? How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure? How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies? Ultimately, the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them. The in-class presentation should focus on only one of your selected programs. <br />
<br />
=== Report #3: Audience &amp; Online Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The third report, due by class on November 19, should look how viewers engage with the channel online. Profile what type of online presence the channel has, considering the availability of programming on their own site and/or others, the opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand, what type of online advertising they feature, and how all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile you have written about the channel. Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why? Ideally, you should compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites (either around a specific program or a broader TV site like [http://televisionwithoutpity.com Television Without Pity]). <br />
<br />
The final versions of all three reports are due by class on December 3. You should be sure that references are consistent and clear, that there are appropriate subheadings to navigate the three reports, and that you have proofread and edited the entire report.</div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Group_Projects&diff=36Group Projects2010-09-17T13:24:17Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>This semester-long assignment will focus on applying course concepts to a specific television channel. Each group will select a case study from the list below, and collaborate on three reports analyzing the channel or network. All reports should be between 1,000-1,500 words in length, featuring clear writing and effective source citation. The reports will all be publicly posted on the channel or network's page on this wiki, as linked below. <br />
<br />
== Groups ==<br />
<br />
''Groups are categorized by discussion section (X is 9:05, Y is 10:10, Z is 11:15):''<br />
<br />
X1 - Alex Abarbanel-Grossman / Darkowaa Adu-Kofi / Tara Quinn <br />
<br />
X2 - Talel Ben Jemia / Willie Gevertz / Alice Lin / Alison Siegel <br />
<br />
X3 - Mathieu Castonguay / Giao Dang / Ted Hall / Yuko Teramae <br />
<br />
X4 - Jeff Haswell / Robbie MacDonald / Angie Paulino <br />
<br />
X5 - Ben Kramer / Diana Rodriguez / Matt Yaggy <br />
<br />
<br> Y1 - Lucas Alvarez / Preethi Mangar / Peter DiPrinzio <br />
<br />
Y2 - Lara Andrade / Adam Benay / Michael Crittell <br />
<br />
Y3 - Erin Fuller / Hunter Nolan / Elisabeth Seite <br />
<br />
Y4 - Laura Irei / Amelia Noble / Jack Roberts <br />
<br />
Y5 - Jessie Reniere / Santana Snyder / Dane Steel <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Z1 - Tom Califra / Dani Duggan / Marti Drolet / Liz Gay <br />
<br />
Z2 - Kristoffer Falcones / Brendan Mahoney / Anna Mackey <br />
<br />
Z3 - Ken Grinde / Jenna Meyer / Marina Yakimenko <br />
<br />
Z4 - Jake Herman / Khando Kyi /Tyler Sandoval <br />
<br />
Z5 - Ben Johnston / Redwan Rokon / Laura Noorani<br />
<br />
== Case Studies ==<br />
<br />
Each group should contact each other by email or in-class, and choose one of these channels or networks to serve as their case study. Claim the channel/network by editing this page and typing your group's code next to the title; <br />
<br />
[[ABC Family|&nbsp;ABC Family]] <br />
<br />
[[AMC]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Animal Planet]] <br />
<br />
[[BBC America]] <br />
<br />
[[BET]] <br />
<br />
[[Bravo]] <br />
<br />
[[Cartoon Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[CNN]] <br />
<br />
[[Comedy Central]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CSPAN]]&nbsp;<br />
<br />
[[Discovery Channel]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[Disney Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[E!]] <br />
<br />
[[ESPN]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Food Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Fox News]] <br />
<br />
[[FX]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[G4]] <br />
<br />
[[HBO]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[HDNet]] <br />
<br />
[[IFC]] <br />
<br />
[[Lifetime]] <br />
<br />
[[Logo]] <br />
<br />
[[MSNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[MTV]] <br />
<br />
[[National Geographic]] <br />
<br />
[[NFL Network]] <br />
<br />
[[Nickelodeon]] <br />
<br />
[[Oxygen]] <br />
<br />
[[Showtime]] <br />
<br />
[[Spike TV]] <br />
<br />
[[Starz]] <br />
<br />
[[Sundance Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[SyFy]] <br />
<br />
[[TBS]] <br />
<br />
[[Telemundo]] <br />
<br />
[[TLC]] <br />
<br />
[[TNT]] <br />
<br />
[[TV Land]] <br />
<br />
[[Univision]] <br />
<br />
[[USA]] <br />
<br />
[[VH1]] <br> <br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
== Assignments<br> ==<br />
<br />
=== Report #1: Industrial Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The first report, due by class on October 8, is a discussion of how your channel fits into the industrial context of commercial television. The goal is to create a profile of the channel that highlights the various ways it works within the facets of the television industry that we've discussed in class. You should offer a brief history of the channel to provide some context as to how it emerged into what it is today, but your discussion should focus on the contemporary situation. Aspects of the industry that you might cover include: ownership and conglomeration; specific partnerships with other companies; roles in production / distribution / transmission; branding strategies; specific target audience(s); scheduling and promotional techniques; signature programming and genre trends; advertising strategies; and related channels (like with ESPN / ESPN 2 for instance). While you don't need to touch on every one of these aspects, you should be sure to address the key elements that distinguish this case study, providing a strong overview for understanding how this channel fits into the contemporary teleivsion industry.<ref>Source</ref><br><br />
<br />
=== Report #2: Textual Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The second report, due by class on November 5, is a discussion of two different programs airing on your channel from 2009. You should pick two distinctly different programs in terms of genre, style, tone, production method, or target audience. The selected programs should be originally created for the channel, not a rerun or import. For each program, your job is to analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report. How does it construct its target audience? How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand? How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure? How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies? Ultimately, the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them. The in-class presentation should focus on only one of your selected programs. <br />
<br />
=== Report #3: Audience &amp; Online Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The third report, due by class on November 19, should look how viewers engage with the channel online. Profile what type of online presence the channel has, considering the availability of programming on their own site and/or others, the opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand, what type of online advertising they feature, and how all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile you have written about the channel. Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why? Ideally, you should compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites (either around a specific program or a broader TV site like [http://televisionwithoutpity.com Television Without Pity]). <br />
<br />
The final versions of all three reports are due by class on December 3. You should be sure that references are consistent and clear, that there are appropriate subheadings to navigate the three reports, and that you have proofread and edited the entire report.</div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Group_Projects&diff=35Group Projects2010-09-17T13:20:40Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
<hr />
<div>This semester-long assignment will focus on applying course concepts to a specific television channel. Each group will select a case study from the list below, and collaborate on three reports analyzing the channel or network. All reports should be between 1,000-1,500 words in length, featuring clear writing and effective source citation. The reports will all be publicly posted on the channel or network's page on this wiki, as linked below. <br />
<br />
== Groups ==<br />
<br />
''Groups are categorized by discussion section (X is 9:05, Y is 10:10, Z is 11:15):''<br />
<br />
X1 - Alex Abarbanel-Grossman / Darkowaa Adu-Kofi / Tara Quinn <br />
<br />
X2 - Talel Ben Jemia / Willie Gevertz / Alice Lin / Alison Siegel <br />
<br />
X3 - Mathieu Castonguay / Giao Dang / Ted Hall / Yuko Teramae <br />
<br />
X4 - Jeff Haswell / Robbie MacDonald / Angie Paulino <br />
<br />
X5 - Ben Kramer / Diana Rodriguez / Matt Yaggy <br />
<br />
<br> Y1 - Lucas Alvarez / Preethi Mangar / Peter DiPrinzio <br />
<br />
Y2 - Lara Andrade / Adam Benay / Michael Crittell <br />
<br />
Y3 - Erin Fuller / Hunter Nolan / Elisabeth Seite <br />
<br />
Y4 - Laura Irei / Amelia Noble / Jack Roberts <br />
<br />
Y5 - Jessie Reniere / Santana Snyder / Dane Steel <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Z1 - Tom Califra / Dani Duggan / Marti Drolet / Liz Gay <br />
<br />
Z2 - Kristoffer Falcones / Brendan Mahoney / Anna Mackey <br />
<br />
Z3 - Ken Grinde / Jenna Meyer / Marina Yakimenko <br />
<br />
Z4 - Jake Herman / Khando Kyi /Tyler Sandoval <br />
<br />
Z5 - Ben Johnston / Redwan Rokon / Laura Noorani<br />
<br />
== Case Studies ==<br />
<br />
Each group should contact each other by email or in-class, and choose one of these channels or networks to serve as their case study. Claim the channel/network by editing this page and typing your group's code next to the title; <br />
<br />
[[ABC Family|&nbsp;ABC Family]] <br />
<br />
[[AMC]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Animal Planet]] <br />
<br />
[[BBC America]] <br />
<br />
[[BET]] <br />
<br />
[[Bravo]] <br />
<br />
[[Cartoon Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[CNN]] <br />
<br />
[[Comedy Central]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[CSPAN]]&nbsp;<br />
<br />
[[Discovery Channel]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[Disney Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[E!]] <br />
<br />
[[ESPN]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Food Network]] <br> <br />
<br />
[[Fox News]] <br />
<br />
[[FX]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[G4]] <br />
<br />
[[HBO]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[HDNet]] <br />
<br />
[[IFC]] <br />
<br />
[[Lifetime]] <br />
<br />
[[Logo]] <br />
<br />
[[MSNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[MTV]] <br />
<br />
[[National Geographic]] <br />
<br />
[[NFL Network]] <br />
<br />
[[Nickelodeon]] <br />
<br />
[[Oxygen]] <br />
<br />
[[Showtime]] <br />
<br />
[[Spike TV]] <br />
<br />
[[Starz]] <br />
<br />
[[Sundance Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[SyFy]] <br />
<br />
[[TBS]] <br />
<br />
[[Telemundo]] <br />
<br />
[[TLC]] <br />
<br />
[[TNT]] <br />
<br />
[[TV Land]] <br />
<br />
[[Univision]] <br />
<br />
[[USA]] <br />
<br />
[[VH1]] <br> <br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
== Assignments<br> ==<br />
<br />
=== Report #1: Industrial Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The first report, due by class on October 8, is a discussion of how your channel fits into the industrial context of commercial television. The goal is to create a profile of the channel that highlights the various ways it works within the facets of the television industry that we've discussed in class. You should offer a brief history of the channel to provide some context as to how it emerged into what it is today, but your discussion should focus on the contemporary situation. Aspects of the industry that you might cover include: ownership and conglomeration; specific partnerships with other companies; roles in production / distribution / transmission; branding strategies; specific target audience(s); scheduling and promotional techniques; signature programming and genre trends; advertising strategies; and related channels (like with ESPN / ESPN 2 for instance). While you don't need to touch on every one of these aspects, you should be sure to address the key elements that distinguish this case study, providing a strong overview for understanding how this channel fits into the contemporary teleivsion industry.<br> <br />
<br />
=== Report #2: Textual Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The second report, due by class on November 5, is a discussion of two different programs airing on your channel from 2009. You should pick two distinctly different programs in terms of genre, style, tone, production method, or target audience. The selected programs should be originally created for the channel, not a rerun or import. For each program, your job is to analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report. How does it construct its target audience? How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand? How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure? How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies? Ultimately, the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them. The in-class presentation should focus on only one of your selected programs. <br />
<br />
=== Report #3: Audience &amp; Online Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The third report, due by class on November 19, should look how viewers engage with the channel online. Profile what type of online presence the channel has, considering the availability of programming on their own site and/or others, the opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand, what type of online advertising they feature, and how all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile you have written about the channel. Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why? Ideally, you should compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites (either around a specific program or a broader TV site like [http://televisionwithoutpity.com Television Without Pity]). <br />
<br />
The final versions of all three reports are due by class on December 3. You should be sure that references are consistent and clear, that there are appropriate subheadings to navigate the three reports, and that you have proofread and edited the entire report.</div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=CSPAN&diff=34CSPAN2010-09-17T13:20:15Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: </p>
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<div><br></div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=CSPAN&diff=33CSPAN2010-09-17T13:18:41Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: New page: Type '''''information'''''.</p>
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<div>Type '''''information'''''.</div>Talel Ben Jemiahttps://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/FMMC0104/index.php?title=Group_Projects&diff=32Group Projects2010-09-17T13:15:11Z<p>Talel Ben Jemia: /* Case Studies */</p>
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<div>This semester-long assignment will focus on applying course concepts to a specific television channel. Each group will select a case study from the list below, and collaborate on three reports analyzing the channel or network. All reports should be between 1,000-1,500 words in length, featuring clear writing and effective source citation. The reports will all be publicly posted on the channel or network's page on this wiki, as linked below. <br />
<br />
== Groups ==<br />
<br />
''Groups are categorized by discussion section (X is 9:05, Y is 10:10, Z is 11:15):''<br />
<br />
X1 - Alex Abarbanel-Grossman / Darkowaa Adu-Kofi / Tara Quinn <br />
<br />
X2 - Talel Ben Jemia / Willie Gevertz / Alice Lin / Alison Siegel <br />
<br />
X3 - Mathieu Castonguay / Giao Dang / Ted Hall / Yuko Teramae <br />
<br />
X4 - Jeff Haswell / Robbie MacDonald / Angie Paulino <br />
<br />
X5 - Ben Kramer / Diana Rodriguez / Matt Yaggy <br />
<br />
<br> Y1 - Lucas Alvarez / Preethi Mangar / Peter DiPrinzio <br />
<br />
Y2 - Lara Andrade / Adam Benay / Michael Crittell <br />
<br />
Y3 - Erin Fuller / Hunter Nolan / Elisabeth Seite <br />
<br />
Y4 - Laura Irei / Amelia Noble / Jack Roberts <br />
<br />
Y5 - Jessie Reniere / Santana Snyder / Dane Steel <br />
<br />
<br> <br />
<br />
Z1 - Tom Califra / Dani Duggan / Marti Drolet / Liz Gay <br />
<br />
Z2 - Kristoffer Falcones / Brendan Mahoney / Anna Mackey <br />
<br />
Z3 - Ken Grinde / Jenna Meyer / Marina Yakimenko <br />
<br />
Z4 - Jake Herman / Khando Kyi /Tyler Sandoval <br />
<br />
Z5 - Ben Johnston / Redwan Rokon / Laura Noorani<br />
<br />
== Case Studies ==<br />
<br />
Each group should contact each other by email or in-class, and choose one of these channels or networks to serve as their case study. Claim the channel/network by editing this page and typing your group's code next to the title; <br />
<br />
[[ABC Family|&nbsp;ABC Family]]<br />
<br />
[[AMC]] <br><br />
<br />
[[Animal Planet]] <br />
<br />
[[BBC America]] <br />
<br />
[[BET]] <br />
<br />
[[Bravo]] <br />
<br />
[[Cartoon Network]] <br><br />
<br />
[[CNBC]]<br />
<br />
[[CNN]] <br />
<br />
[[Comedy Central]] <br><br />
<br />
[[CSPAN]] - X2<br />
<br />
[[Discovery Channel]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[Disney Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[E!]] <br />
<br />
[[ESPN]] <br><br />
<br />
[[Food Network]] <br><br />
<br />
[[Fox News]] <br />
<br />
[[FX]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[G4]] <br />
<br />
[[HBO]]&nbsp; <br />
<br />
[[HDNet]] <br />
<br />
[[IFC]] <br />
<br />
[[Lifetime]] <br />
<br />
[[Logo]] <br />
<br />
[[MSNBC]] <br />
<br />
[[MTV]]<br />
<br />
[[National Geographic]]<br />
<br />
[[NFL Network]] <br />
<br />
[[Nickelodeon]]<br />
<br />
[[Oxygen]] <br />
<br />
[[Showtime]] <br />
<br />
[[Spike TV]] <br />
<br />
[[Starz]] <br />
<br />
[[Sundance Channel]] <br />
<br />
[[SyFy]] <br />
<br />
[[TBS]] <br />
<br />
[[Telemundo]] <br />
<br />
[[TLC]] <br />
<br />
[[TNT]] <br />
<br />
[[TV Land]] <br />
<br />
[[Univision]] <br />
<br />
[[USA]] <br />
<br />
[[VH1]] <br><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
== Assignments<br> ==<br />
<br />
=== Report #1: Industrial Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The first report, due by class on October 8, is a discussion of how your channel fits into the industrial context of commercial television. The goal is to create a profile of the channel that highlights the various ways it works within the facets of the television industry that we've discussed in class. You should offer a brief history of the channel to provide some context as to how it emerged into what it is today, but your discussion should focus on the contemporary situation. Aspects of the industry that you might cover include: ownership and conglomeration; specific partnerships with other companies; roles in production / distribution / transmission; branding strategies; specific target audience(s); scheduling and promotional techniques; signature programming and genre trends; advertising strategies; and related channels (like with ESPN / ESPN 2 for instance). While you don't need to touch on every one of these aspects, you should be sure to address the key elements that distinguish this case study, providing a strong overview for understanding how this channel fits into the contemporary teleivsion industry.<br> <br />
<br />
=== Report #2: Textual Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The second report, due by class on November 5, is a discussion of two different programs airing on your channel from 2009. You should pick two distinctly different programs in terms of genre, style, tone, production method, or target audience. The selected programs should be originally created for the channel, not a rerun or import. For each program, your job is to analyze how its form and content fit with the industrial strategies and contexts you discovered in the first report. How does it construct its target audience? How does the program and its cultural meanings fit within the channel's brand? How might the production history of the show connect with its ownership structure? How does the program's scheduling connect with the channel's larger strategies? Ultimately, the goal is to provide clear and specific insights into how the meanings offered by these programs are connected to the industrial systems that produce and distribute them. The in-class presentation should focus on only one of your selected programs. <br />
<br />
=== Report #3: Audience &amp; Online Analysis ===<br />
<br />
The third report, due by class on November 19, should look how viewers engage with the channel online. Profile what type of online presence the channel has, considering the availability of programming on their own site and/or others, the opportunities for viewers to participate in the channel's content and brand, what type of online advertising they feature, and how all of these elements tie back to the broader industrial profile you have written about the channel. Choose at least one active discussion about the channel's programming or news and analyze how fans seem to view the channel - is there hostility to decisions or practices, or do fans seem quite supportive of the channel, and why? Ideally, you should compare the discussions occurring on the channel's own site versus those on other fan sites (either around a specific program or a broader TV site like [http://televisionwithoutpity.com Television Without Pity]). <br />
<br />
The final versions of all three reports are due by class on December 3. You should be sure that references are consistent and clear, that there are appropriate subheadings to navigate the three reports, and that you have proofread and edited the entire report.</div>Talel Ben Jemia