Television
February 10, 2010
Comedy Central UK Secures Exclusive Linear Rights To Hit Comedy Series “Friends,” In Multiyear Deal With Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
(February 10, 2010 – Burbank, CA and London) – The U.S. comedy series “Friends” will have a new on-air home in the UK beginning Autumn 2011, as Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) has licensed the exclusive linear rights to the hit sitcom to Viacom’s Comedy Central UK in a multiyear deal. The announcement was made today by Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television, and Jill Offman, Managing Director, Comedy Central UK.
Under terms of the agreement, WBITD has licensed “Friends” to Comedy Central for a period of four years, commencing in October 2011.
Jeffrey Schlesinger said: “‘Friends’ is one of the most successful comedy franchises in television history, a long-running hit with global appeal that continues to perform extremely well in the UK. We are certain that ‘Friends’ will continue to be very popular as it moves to Comedy Central and joins our other long-running hit, ‘Two and a Half Men,’ making this channel the home to two of the best and most successful comedies produced by our studio over the last 20 years.”
Jill Offman said: “As the home of comedy in the UK, it only makes sense that Comedy Central shows one of the most popular comedies ever to come out of the U.S.”
Comedy Central UK launched in April 2009 and currently presents exclusive premieres of U.S. series “Two and a Half Men” (from WBITD), “South Park” and “30 Rock,” as well as commissioning UK shows “Grouchy Young Men” and “Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee.” Additionally, Comedy Central UK airs the biggest live comedy specials from names including Chris Rock, Dara O’Briain, Alan Carr and Michael McIntyre.
A hilarious look at dating and working in the big city, “Friends” delve into the hearts and minds of six young adults living in New York City as they explore the anxieties and absurdities of growing up. During this exciting time when everything seems possible – even marriage, parenthood and career moves – they know they will always face the future together, because they’ve got friends. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer star in the comedy from Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. “Friends” was created by David Crane & Marta Kauffman, who also executive produced with Kevin S. Bright. The series is distributed around the world by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.
About Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the international television marketplace (broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, digital platforms, etc.). It licenses some 50,000 hours of programming (including more than 6,000 features and 70+ current series), dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries. For more information, please log on to www.wbitv.com.
About Comedy Central UK
Whether your taste is sharp and satirical, warm hearted and familiar, fast paced and glossy, there is something for everyone on Comedy Central, the UK’s brand new Capital of Comedy. Comedy Central features an incomparable line up of award-winning comedies, big name British stand-up and brand new UK commissions. Catch premieres of America’s biggest sitcom Two and a Half Men, 30 Rock, Steve Carrell’s The Office and brand new episodes of South Park as they TX in the US. Comedy Central brings you big name stand up from the likes of Chris Rock, Dara O’Briain, Alan Carr, Russell Howard and Lee Evans.
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About Comedy Central International
For over 15 years, Comedy Central has been the first and only all-comedy network since its 1991 launch in the US. Now a global multimedia brand, Comedy Central brings viewers across the world the very best in comedy programming with seven dedicated channels and eighteen websites across the US, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Comedy Central is home to hit shows such as South Park, Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, and The Sarah Silverman Program as well as locally produced programming featuring home-grown talent. Comedy Central and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. # # #