Comedy Central And The NY Comedy Fest Announce Partnership Extension

COMEDY CENTRAL and The New York Comedy Festival announced today that they have signed a three-year partnership extension. This deal continues to provide the Festival a national media partner to present its stellar comedy line-up through COMEDY CENTRAL's multimedia platforms. In addition, the multi-year relationship with NYCF extends the Network's relationship with its on-air sponsors and affiliates. The 2011 Festival will take place Wednesday, November 9 through Sunday, November 13 with the line-up to be announced in August.

This partnership also consists of digital media support and other content opportunities including stand-up specials produced at the Festival to premiere on COMEDY CENTRAL, streaming live stand-up events on comedycentral.com and hosting industry showcases and panel discussions (i.e. best young talent, TV show writers, etc.).

"The relationship with the New York Comedy Festival for the past few years has been hugely successful," said Mitch Fried, senior vice president, live entertainment, COMEDY CENTRAL. "This strategic alliance affords both New York City-based companies the ability to showcase incredibly talented performers through a multitude of media opportunities."

"We're thrilled to be extending and expanding our partnership with COMEDY CENTRAL, and we're looking forward to elevating the Festival and comedy to even greater heights over the next three years," said Caroline Hirsch, a founding partner and owner of The Festival and Carolines on Broadway. "New York is such a special place for comedy, and the Festival has become one of the city's most successful and highly anticipated events with COMEDY CENTRAL. This year's Festival promises to be a very special week for comedy throughout the city," Hirsch added.

Now in its eighth year, The New York Comedy Festival is produced by Carolines on Broadway in association with COMEDY CENTRAL. The Festival has featured some of the country's top comedians including Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Dane Cook, Ricky Gervais, Artie Lange, Bill Maher, Andy Samberg and Sarah Silverman to name a few. In 2007, the Festival launched the "Stand Up for Heroes" event to benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which has featured performances by Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Conan O'Brien and Bruce Springsteen. For more information about the festival, please visit www.nycomedyfestival.com.

The 2011 NYCF media sponsors include Time Out New York and New York Post.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all- comedy network, currently is seen in more than 98 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks.