Channel 4 Sights Online As New Comedy Conduit

Channel 4 is to bolster its broadband offering with a new comedy channel, showcasing publicly contributed content in the same vein as its online documentary service FourDocs.

The new 4Laughs website, launching in spring 2006, will allow comedy fans to post their own video sketches which can then be rated by other site users.

Jointly conceived by the broadcaster’s new media and entertainment departments, 4Laughs, is designed to provide a platform for talented individuals, with filmmakers able to upload ten minute clips to create a ‘virtual comedy festival’ of unique, user-generated content.

Channel 4’s long-term plans for the service include commissioning existing comedy talent for the site and licensing existing short-form comedy to broaden its appeal. There are also plans to introduce a monitoring system over user ratings to generate online commissions for the creators of the most popular comedy pieces.

Commenting on the new service Andy Grumbridge, managing editor of Channel 4 New Media, said: “The success of FourDocs convinced us that an appetite exists for quality websites populated with user-generated content, and we wanted to extend this idea further. Comedy is the perfect genre for user-generated content and Channel 4’s fantastic pedigree in comedy gives us genuine credibility to showcase other people’s talent.

“Ultimately we hope that 4Laughs will become a trusted and valued entertainment site which users can visit confident they’ll be able to find high quality, unique comedy clips.”

FourDocs launched earlier this year, marking Channel 4’s first foray into online community-based video content (see Channel 4 Unveils FourDocs To Boost PSB Content Online). The broadcaster has since pledged investment of £2 million in broadband operations, spawning a huge increase in online activities, and taking all of its internet content operations in house (see Channel 4 Ploughs £2 Million Into Broadband Content).

Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com