Podcasting isn't new to anyone who is a fan of comedy, technologically advanced, or those just plain ahead of the curve. But for the rest of the world, it's still just something that they heard about that one time Obama was on one or when their hip friend told them about this true crime Serial thing. What we're trying to say here is podcasting is still very much a growing media platform. But with each passing month, as traditional mediums age out and burgeoning ideas like streaming become more user friendly, you better believe we'll see more and more brands turn to the platform of podcasting to extend their brand, reach different audiences, and act as a farm team for burgeoning talent. Enter Comedy Central.
News broke that Comedy Central has teamed up with Midroll Media to launch its very own podcast network. Midroll is the parent/ad company behind many large podcast networks that provides adverts for networks such as Earwolf, Stitcher, and Nerdist. Midroll will provide ad sales and serve an advisory roll while Comedy Central will use the network as both "brand extensions" of its existing content and as a ground to develop new shows as it continues to make its push into the digital space. The network will launch first with The Jim Jefferies Show Podcast which just went live.
“Podcasting is the next step in the evolution of Comedy Central content, an extremely versatile, and exciting medium that furthers our 360 strategy to allow our talent to express their vision and connect directly with fans across multiple platforms,” said Steve Raizes, SVP, Comedy Central Consumer Products, Experiential and Audio. “We’re huge fans of podcasting and truly excited to create content based on our signature properties as well as entirely new concepts.”
Here's the current slate of shows set to premiere on Comedy Central's network.
The Jim Jefferies Show Podcast– The show will feature exclusive weekly post-show discussions of the late-night series with Jefferies and his guests and/or writers. From a deeper dive into to show topics to jokes that didn’t make the cut to far-ranging conversations beyond the show, listeners will get a glimpse into Jim’s mind.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: Ears Edition – This daily podcast will feature a highlight segment from the prior night of the The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, as well as the extended interview.
The Daily Show Original Mini-Series (title still TBD) – This limited mini-series is a comedic, in-depth look at a particular topic from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah team, anchored by their signature brand of insight, depth and wit.
History of the Roast – Based on Comedy Central’s Roast franchise, this podcast mini-series will examine a specific roast each episode. We will take fans behind-the-scenes with exclusive backstory including audio clips and potential interviews with talent, writers and producers.
Up Next – Based on Comedy Central’s Up Next stand-up discovery franchise, this podcast will highlight rising Comedy Central talent with potential live recordings from NY and LA showcases.