Comedy Central Begins First Local Production in the Middle East: CC Presents كوميدي عالواقف Features 30 Middle Eastern Comedians
24/01/2017
Comedy Central, the world’s number one comedy network and a division of VIACOM International Media Networks (VIMN), is excited to announce the start of production for Comedy Central Presents كوميدي عالواقف, the first stand-up comedy production for Comedy Central in the region since the channel launched last year
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Milano – 24 January, 2017 – Comedy Central, the world’s number one comedy network and a division of VIACOM International Media Networks (VIMN), is excited to announce the start of production for Comedy Central Presents كوميدي عالواقف, the first stand-up comedy production for Comedy Central in the region since the channel launched last year.
The brand teamed up with local talent from across the Middle East to create exclusive content produced and recorded live at Stereo Arcade, Dubai. The show will premiere exclusively on OSN, the region’s leading pay-TV network, on February 5.
‘VIMN is committed to growing our business and investing in new projects in the Middle East,’ said Raffaele Annecchino, President and Managing Director of VIMN كوميدي عالواقف Southern & Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East, ‘CC Presents is the first local production for Comedy Central in MENA since we launched the channel less than a year ago. This is a great achievement for the brand and we look forward to continued success, with the goal to make Comedy Central the home of standup in the region, both for our audiences and local talent.’
CC Presents كوميدي عالواقف features 30 of the most promising Arab comedians. Hailing from UAE, KSA, Jordan, Egypt and Sudan, the diverse group will perform in English and Arabic, blending international and regional tastes. The show is fronted by two high profile hosts: heavyweight comedian Ali Al Sayed; an Emirati who has performed on iconic stages such as Comic Strip Live and Broadway in New York, and Mo Amer, a pioneer of Arab-American stand-up who has supported the legendary Dave Chappelle. The dynamic duo will present the selected acts, with each line-up drawing inspiration from a range of Middle Eastern traditions and cultures. Highlights of the program include Talal Al Sheikhi, Yeser Al Beker, and Wissam Kamal, who will be debuting entirely fresh material especially for the show.
‘Comedy Central is the leading comedy brand around the world and we are committed to elevating local talent. Programs like CC Presents… and support of other local standup is a key part of our business in our other markets including Africa, Italy and Spain,‘ said Amalia Martinez de Velasco, SVP Entertainment Brands, VIMN SWEMEA, ‘When we launched Comedy Central in MENA, we were determined to accomplish the same success here in the Middle East. We have brought together thirty comedians from all across the region and hope that CC Presents كوميدي عالواقف is just the beginning of our collaborative work with local comics.’ Comedy Central is committed to developing the regional stand-up scene and introducing local Arabic content into the Comedy Central programming schedule, working in close collaboration with several Middle Eastern comedy clubs.
The show will premiere on February 5th on Comedy Central HD on OSN channel 207.
It will consist of a total of five hours of stand-up composed of 10 half-hour episodes, each featuring three new artists.
To learn more, visit ComedyCentralArabia.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ComedyCentralAR
