Bell Media Signs Long-Term Content Licensing Agreement with Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) for Comedy Central Content in Canada

TORONTO (June 3, 2016) – Bell Media announced today that it has reached an exclusive deal with VIMN that builds on the company’s existing relationship with Comedy Central.  The multi-year deal secures Comedy Central’s entire library and all new programming with an expanded suite of rights across multiple platforms, ensuring that Bell Media will remain the broadcaster of marquee Comedy Central programming such as THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH, SOUTH PARK, INSIDE AMY SCHUMER, @MIDNIGHT WITH CHRIS HARDWICK, BROAD CITY, and the famed Comedy Central Roasts for years to come. “VIMN continues to be a valued partner for Bell Media, and we were thrilled to work with them to extend our relationship with Comedy Central,” said Tracey Pearce, Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media.  “Comedy Central sets the bar for relevant, sticky, comedy content, and we’re happy to bring that to audiences via The Comedy Network, Much, and CraveTV.” “We’re very happy to continue supplying Comedy Central’s award-winning programming to Canada via our friends at Bell Media,” David Bernath, General Manager, Comedy Central. “In the event there is a mass exodus this fall to north of the border it is reassuring that American ex-pats will still have access to their favourite shows across a multitude of platforms.” “We are very excited to finalize this deal with Bell Media, one of our long-term partners in delivering VIMN’s high quality content in Canada,” said Pierluigi Gazzolo, President of VIMN Americas. “We will now be able to further expand our presence in this important market and provide our audiences with even more ways to access Comedy Central’s renowned programming.” The agreement, a significant expansion of Bell Media’s previous agreement with VIMN, reached in 2007, delivers exclusive rights to Comedy Central’s first-run original programming as well as its extensive library of scripted and unscripted series and specials, including rights to international Comedy Central original productions for multiple platforms, including broadcast, digital, EST, and SVOD. These rights will be exploited across Bell Media brands including, The Comedy Network, Much, and CraveTV. As part of the agreement, Bell Media has retained rights to Comedy Central’s branded app, Comedy Central Play, which offers clips, full episodes, and exclusive content from hit programming and stand-up specials. Comedy Central programming is foundational on both The Comedy Network and Much. On Comedy, where a Comedy Central branded programming block will debut later this year, THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH continues to make The Comedy Network the most-watched entertainment specialty channel in its late-night timeslot across all key adult demos. On Much, Comedy Central programming makes up nearly all of the Top 10 programs in the target 12-34 demo, with @MIDNIGHT WITH CHRIS HARDWICK, SOUTH PARK, TOSH.O, and BROAD CITY amongst the strongest performers. Comedy Central produces content from some of the biggest names in comedy and has helped to turn many comedians into household names including Jon Stewart, Amy Schumer, Stephen Colbert, and Trevor Noah. In 2015, Comedy Central received 25 Emmy nominations – the most ever for the network, including nods in the key comedy acting categories.