Channel 4 dedicated digital comedy channel for original unscripted comedy, A Comedy Thing by Channel 4, launches on Spotify this week.
The digital-first ensemble channel, featuring some of the nation’s most hotly tipped comics, will be made available to all Spotify users on mobile and desktop.
The channel, which launched on YouTube last summer, is the latest addition to Channel 4’s digital portfolio as it continues to innovate in the digital space.
A Comedy Thing by Channel 4 from Strong Watch Studios, who are backed by Hat Trick Productions, brings a brilliant line-up of sharp, standout comics together to create original formats, perfectly suited to digitally savvy audiences. This new collaboration launches with the format The Lying Game. The comics featured include Vittorio Angelone, Mike Rice, Finlay Christie, Olga Koch, Mickey Overman, Dan Tiernan and Gbemi Oladipo.
The launch builds on Channel 4’s record of innovative digital-first distribution strategies to meet young audiences on the platforms where they are.
Channel 4 was the first UK broadcaster to bring video programming to Spotify, with Programming from Channel 4.0, its digital-first platform becoming available to audiences from last summer.
Channel 4 pioneered the launch of TV programming on Snapchat in 2018 and on TikTok in 2021. In 2022, Channel 4 was the first UK broadcaster to strike a landmark deal to distribute long-form content on YouTube.
Globally there are around 170 million monthly podcaster listeners on Spotify, a 12x growth since 2019. Video also continues to accelerate on Spotify, with video consumption in the UK up more than 95% year on year. The Spotify Partner Program launched in the UK in January earlier this year to help creators grow their audience and better monetize their podcasts on Spotify - whether it is video or audio.
Grace Boswood, Channel 4 Technology & Distribution Director, said: “Following our launch on Spotify last summer, we're excited to bring Channel 4’s premium comedy content to our audiences where they are, on the digital platforms they love. We are thrilled to introduce Spotify audiences to the next wave of British comedians to share, watch and laugh along with anywhere.”
Alastair Ferrans, Head of International at Spotify, said: "We're seeing huge engagement with comedy video content on Spotify, so it's great to be able to provide more content that we know our users will love. In addition, Channel 4 has proven to be a great partner to us through recent collaborations, so it's a no brainer for us to continue working together and delivering new experiences and formats."
A Comedy Thing by Channel 4 is led by Head of Digital Commissioning, Laura Marks and Charlie Hyland, Digital Commissioning Editor. Executive producers for Strong Watch Studios are Thom Gulseven and Ben Powell-Jones.
