Just For Laughs To Take Over SiriusXM's 'Canada Laughs' Channel; Comedians' Complaints Prompt Changes In Plans

Taking Over Channel

SIRIUSXM CANADA has announced that the comedy channel presently occupied by CANADA LAUGHS will be replaced by JUST FOR LAUGHS RADIO in a partnership with the company, partly owned by HOWIE MANDEL, best known for its comedy festivals, including the annual flagship convention in MONTREAL.  The change will mean that content will primarily consist of archived material to which JFL owns rights, a move that has Canadian comics protesting over the loss of residuals via SOUNDEXCHANGE and the change from all-Canadian content to a mix of Canadian, American, Australian, and British clips.

The MONTREAL GAZETTE reports that MANDEL said that SIRIUSXM approached JFL to "retool" the channel and added, "We will still be taking content -- it is a Canadian station -- we will be taking content from Canadian comedians and independently recorded comedians and up-and-coming comedians from CANADA.”  But comedians are not happy with the prospect of losing what comic DAVE NYSTROM said could amount to from US$500-2,000 per month in royalties.

The change to the JFL branding is scheduled for the SPRING, although some comics have noted that the programming changes appear to have started early.

Update: Changes And Regrets As Plans For Channel Altered

Late WEDNESDAY, the satellite service and JFL issued a press release changing some of the terms of the channel's remit, saying that the channel, to be called JUST FOR LAUGHS CANADA, will now showcase 100% Canadian content, will include content independent of the JFL catalogue, and will pay the same royalties as before; the release added, "We spoke with SANDRA BATTAGLINI from the CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF STAND-UP COMEDIANS (CASC) and informed her of our plans for the channel."

In addition, statements were issued by JFL President BRUCE HILLS and SIRIUSXM CANADA SVP of Programming Operations JOHN LEWIS.  HILLS said, "We've listened carefully to the concerns of Canadian artists and regret the stress we have caused the comedy community. We are invested in the growth of CANADA's comedy industry and are working to include even more Canadian talent in all our initiatives. To that end, we will continue to engage directly with the industry and work with CASC to strengthen and advance Canadian comedy."

LEWIS said, "Our partnership with JUST FOR LAUGHS CANADA provides an opportunity to bring CANADA's comedic talent to a larger audience in CANADA and the UNITED STATES. We understand the importance our platform has to comedians in CANADA, and along with JUST FOR LAUGHS, we will continue to work closely with that community to ensure its success."

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