CHANNEL 4 has announced it will be launching a brand new comedy channel later this month, but it is hidden on Freeview, Sky and Virgin boxes.
The new channel is purely digital and will be available to watch on YouTube.
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Channel 4 to launch new comedy channel
Called “A Comedy Thing by Channel 4”, this new content will include original unscripted comedy.
Episodes will air weekly and run for 20-30 minutes.
Viewers can also expect to see highlights and shorter clips from each episode be across other social media platforms such as TikTok an Instagram.
According to Cord Busters, this marks Channel 4’s latest move in its “Fast Forward” strategy, as it hopes to become primarily a streaming service by 2030.
Plans to target Gen Z viewers
Its latest series will launch later this month, and follows the successful model of Channel 4.0 and Channel 4 Served, targeting mainly Gen Z viewers who often opt for online entertainment over traditional TV.
The head of digital commissioning at Channel 4, Sacha Khari, told Deadline: “Channel 4 has a long history of shaping British comedy.
“We’re bringing that legacy into pixels. It’s built for a community who want to get their laughs online first but still love the buzz of a live gig.”
The minds behind comedy classics like “Have I Got News For You and Derry Girls, are also supporting this new venture.
Emerging new comics to take centre stage
Comedy fans can expect to see a line up of rising stars.
Unlike most Channel 4 comedy offerings which feature big-name comics, this new show will platform emerging stars, reports Deadline.
Among those expected to take centre stage are Vittorio Angelone, Finlay Christie, Olga Koch, Gbemi Oladipo, Micky Overman and Dan Tiernan.
Khari described the seven stars as a “fresh and formidable lineup.”
This ensemble cast will appear across various formats from podcasts and crowd work to quick-fire gags and panel shows.
Khari added: “The formats derive from what works well on YouTube but the big difference here is that we are combining the sensibilities of the [digital] talent with that kind of night where all you want to do is watch stand-up.”
Keeping kids safe on YouTube
RESTRICTED Mode is an optional setting on YouTube that helps filter out mature videos.
It’s not perfect, but it’s a good way of scrubbing out a large portion of the adult material on YouTube.
However, you have to turn it off manually for each browser or device your child is using – it can’t simply be applied at account level.
On your computer, go to the account icon – a little person icon in the top right corner of your screen.
Click Restricted Mode, then use the toggle button to turn it on.
On the Android phone app or mobile site, tap the menu icon, which looks like three vertical dots.
Then go to Settings > General and turn Restricted Mode on.
On Android TV, go to the Home screen then scroll down to the Apps row.
Select YouTube, then scroll down and select Settings.
Choose Restricted Mode or Safety Mode, then select Enabled.
On the iOS app (for iPhones or iPad), tap the account icon in the top right.
Tap Settings then Restricted Mode Filtering, then choose Strict: Restricted Mode On.
On the iOS mobile site, tap the menu icon, which looks like a three-dot column.
Tap Settings then tap Restricted Mode to turn it on or off.
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