Channel 4 has announced plans for a new dedicated digital comedy channel featuring original unscripted comedy content.
A Comedy Thing by Channel 4 will launch on YouTube later this month.
It follows the successful debut of food channel, Channel 4 Served, earlier this year, and the enormous success of the multi-award winning youth channel brand Channel 4.0 which has built a significant fanbase since its launch in October 2022.
Strong Watch Studios, who are backed by Hat Trick Productions, has been commissioned to launch the channel and produce the first wave of new formats and additional social content. Each of the yet to be announced shows will be fronted by an ensemble cast of rising comics. The cast will appear in each show, across a range of comedy genres, from podcasts and crowd work to quick-fire gags and panel shows.
A Comedy Thing by Channel 4 will publish weekly long-form programming (approx. 20-30 minutes) for YouTube, whilst cutdowns will engage audiences across TikTok and Instagram.
Sacha Khari, Head of Digital Commissioning at Channel 4, commented: “Channel 4 has a long history of shaping British comedy, and with A Comedy Thing by Channel 4, we’re bringing that legacy into pixels.
“Our digital shows are already building loyal fanbases and getting real recognition and A Comedy Thing by Channel 4 is the next step. A proper home for the next wave of British comedy, made for the way modern audiences are choosing to watch. The next few months are going to be big and very funny.”
The comedy ‘channel’ and its positioning on YouTube is the latest move in Channel 4’s digital acceleration strategy, Fast Forward. A Comedy Thing by Channel 4 is led by Head of Digital Commissioning, Sacha Khari and Charlie Hyland, Digital Commissioning Editor.
