Comedy Central (India)

History

Comedy Central launched in India on 23 January 2012, the product of a joint venture between Viacom and TV18, promoted with a three-city standup tour by Russell Brand. The network launched in high definition on 1 July 2015.

The channel ceased broadcasting on 15 March 2025.

2012 temporary broadcast prohibition

Comedy Central was prohibited from broadcasting in India for 10 days, from 25 May until 4 June 2012, after an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting found that two of its shows that aired in 2012, carried "obscene dialogues and vulgar words" that "offend good taste", violating several provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. The provisions of the law include "no programme should be carried in the cable service which offends against good taste or decency; no programme should be carried which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths". It also states that "no programme should be carried which denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of woman, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent or derogatory to women or is likely to injure the public morality".

Two incidents were cited for the temporary shutdown of the channel; an episode of Stand Up Club where an unnamed stand-up performed an act with "obscene dialogues and vulgar words derogatory to women" aired on 26 May 2012, then a 4 July 2012 airing of PopCorn TV (a program imported from France without dialogue), where one of the crew members was shown standing opposite a wall, in a shop holding false legs in an open and suggestive position with sexual movements. Comedy Central apologised for the broadcast, blaming it on an "unintentional genuine error".

The network appealed the ban in the Delhi High Court, with a judge rejecting it as not an "excessive, harsh or unreasonable" penalty. The network then went dark for the next ten days. The ministry's decision to directly issue a show-cause notice and, later, order a blackout raised concerns in the Indian broadcasting industry about content restrictions. Critics felt that the government had used the vague framing of the Constitution to censor materials for viewers, threatening India's democratic traditions.

Programming

Final programming

Source:

• Atypical
• Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• The Daily Show
• Nathan for You
• The Office (US)
• Parks and Recreation
• Takeshi's Castle
• Workaholics
• Schitt's Creek
• People Just Do Nothing

Former programming

• 'Allo 'Allo!
• 30 Rock
• 3rd Rock from the Sun
• About a Boy
• Alex, Inc.
• America's Funniest Home Videos
• Anger Management
• Angie Tribeca
• A.P. Bio
• Archer
• Are We There Yet?
• Arrested Development
• Awkward
• Betty White's Off Their Rockers
• The Big Bang Theory
• Billy on the Street
• Blunt Talk
• Bob Hearts Abishola
• Call Me Fitz
• The Carmichael Show
• Carpoolers
• Challenge Accepted
• Citizen Khan
• Community
• Complete Savages
• Coupling
• Crowded
• Deadbeat
• The Detour
• Detroiters
• Dharma & Greg
• Doogie Howser, M.D.
• Dr. Ken
• Episodes
• Everybody Hates Chris
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• The Exes
• Fawlty Towers
• Friends
• Future Man
• Go On
• The Good Place
• Goodness Gracious Me
• The Great Indoors
• The Graham Norton Show
• Great News
• Greek
• ''Growing Up Fisher'''
• Guys with Kids
• Happily Divorced
• Hope & Faith
• Hot in Cleveland
• House of Lies
• How Not to Live Your Life
• I Feel Bad
• I Survived a Japanese Game Show
• Impastor
• Impractical Jokers
• The Inbetweeners
• The IT Crowd
• The Jim Gaffigan Show
• Just for Laughs
• Kevin Can Wait
• Key & Peele
• The King of Queens
• The Kumars at No. 42
• Little Britain
• Live at Gotham
• MASH*
• Malcolm in the Middle
• Man with a Plan
• Marlon
• The Middle
• Mike & Molly
• Mind Your Language
• The Mindy Project
• Mom
• Mulaney
• Murphy Brown
• My Boys
• No Tomorrow
• Odd Mom Out
• Outsourced
• Penn & Teller: Fool Us
• Perfect Couples
• Playing House
• Pranked
• Psych
• Punk'd
• Reno 911!
• Ridiculousness
• Rules of Engagement
• Samantha Who?
• Saturday Night Live
• Scrubs
• Sean Saves the World
• Seed
• Seinfeld
• Sirens
• South Park
• Suburgatory
• Suits
• Superior Donuts
• Superstore
• Telenovela
• Teen Wolf
• That '70s Show
• Threesome
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Ugly Betty
• Undateable
• Up All Night
• Web Therapy
• Whitney
• Will & Grace
• Wipeout
• The Wonder Years
• Whose Line Is It Anyway?
• World's Craziest Fools
• Wrecked
• Younger
• Your Family or Mine

References

References

1. Srivastava, Akansha. (February 17, 2025). "JioStar shuts 9 channels including Comedy Central; introduces 8 new sports channels".
2. (2012-01-18). "Comedy Central now in India".
3. Dilip, Mangala. "Russell Brand Returns to India after 2010 Wedding with Katy Perry; Book Tickets for Chuckle Festival". International Business Times, India Edition.
4. (25 May 2013). "Delhi HC upholds ban on Comedy Central". Dnaindia.com.
5. (28 May 2013). "HC stays 10-day ban on Comedy Central's transmission". Dnaindia.com.
6. (26 May 2013). "Not funny: Comedy Central channel banned for 10 days for offending good taste".
7. Jha, Prashant. (26 May 2013). "Comedy Central banned for 10 days". [[The Hindu]].
8. (28 May 2013). "Indian Court Lifts Ban on Comedy Central". Online.wsj.com.
9. "Comedy Central Hd Channel Schedule Today (India)".
10. (April 5, 2020). "Comedy Central records highest ever rating". Indian Television.
11. (January 18, 2012). "Viacom18 to premiere Comedy Central on 23 January".
12. (January 23, 2012). "Comedy Central makes its way to India today". [[Times of India]].
13. (June 4, 2012). "Comedy Central launches 7 new shows this June".
14. "Laugh it off with Comedy Central's new summer line-up".
15. (August 17, 2018). "Alex, Inc.': Beginning of the end". [[The Hindu]].
16. (July 11, 2016). "Friends most watched English show on Indian TV in January–June".
17. (May 26, 2019). "'AP Bio' Gets Cancelled After Two Seasons". India Forums.
18. (March 29, 2018). "Archer' Makes Comedy Central Premiere March 2".
19. (January 15, 2014). "Comedy Central announces its new year line up with four new shows". Indian Television.
20. (October 5, 2016). "Comedy Central, 'Your Happy Place', to get happier with its October line-up".
21. (May 6, 2019). "Comedy Central and Colors Infinity rejuvenate primetime for viewers of English entertainment".
22. (September 28, 2019). "Get ready to 'Watch With The World' on Comedy Central". Indian Television.
23. (March 6, 2017). "Comedy Central with a fresh line-up that celebrates colors, girl power and happiness!". Adgully.
24. (January 14, 2016). "Comedy Central to launch homegrown show 'Challenge Accepted;' Cyrus Sahukar to host". Indian Television.
25. (July 10, 2013). "Mumbai: Comedy Central India presents Citizen Khan". Indian Television.
26. (June 2, 2016). "June fresh Lineup". Indian Television.
27. (March 19, 2014). "'Awkward' and 'Complete Savages' add to LOL moments on Comedy Central".
28. (May 3, 2013). "COMEDY CENTRAL'S LAUGHTER RIOT". Indian Television.
29. (March 7, 2013). "All for a good telly laugh!". [[The Hindu]].
30. (June 25, 2012). "Comedy Central brings new comedy show Dr. Doogie Howser M.D.".
31. (May 11, 2017). "Comedy Central exciting line-up for May". Indian Television.
32. (January 8, 2013). "Comedy Central launches 'Everybody Loves Raymond'".
33. (December 18, 2013). "Comedy Central gives more reasons to 'laugh it off' this festive season".
34. (May 31, 2013). "Comedy Central lines up fun riots with 'Go On' and 'Suits' Season 2".
35. (July 3, 2017). "Comedy Central to air five new series in July". Indian Television.
36. (February 6, 2018). "Comedy Central brings bouquet of new shows this February".
37. (May 24, 2014). "Comedy Central brings another sitcom 'Greek'".
38. (November 11, 2014). "Comedy Central to celebrate Children's Day".
39. (February 11, 2014). "Comedy Central set to add love, laughter and madness this Valentine's month".
40. (April 4, 2014). "Comedy Central to launch 9 new primetime shows in May".
41. "Amy Schumer's unique road to becoming an A-list comedy star".
42. (2016-10-06). "Comedy Central updates Diwali schedule; adds films".
43. (May 4, 2016). "Comedy Central's Summer Chills and other new shows".
44. (September 28, 2018). "This festive season, Comedy Central brings a fun-filled roller coaster ride". Adgully.
45. (November 9, 2016). "November line-up on Comedy Central".
46. (30 July 2013). "Get ready for a primetime filled with laughter this August only on Comedy Central". Indian Television Dot Com.
47. "Comedy Central to air entire Season 1 of 'Playing House' on May 10".
48. (October 22, 2014). "Comedy Central to light up Diwali with four new shows". Adgully.
49. (July 17, 2012). "Comedy Central launches epic American comedy series Scrubs".
50. (March 31, 2017). "Comedy Central enters April with interesting line-up". Indian Television.
51. (April 28, 2017). "Here are all your favorite TV shows that are coming back for another season". [[Business Insider]].
52. (March 4, 2016). "Two new shows to raise the laughter level on Comedy Central this month". Indian Television.
53. (March 23, 2012). "'That 70s Show' just another American comedy? Definitely not". DNA.
54. (July 2, 2013). "Comedy Central adds more laughter in primetime".
55. (January 17, 2013). "Comedy Central brings comedy drama 'Ugly Betty'".
56. (April 5, 2013). "Comedy Central to launch 3 new shows".
57. (January 30, 2013). "Comedy Central launches new show 'Web Therapy'".
58. "Will & Grace and Other TV Shows That Resurrected After Years". FHM.
59. (September 10, 2015). "Comedy Central revamps". Indian Television.