Paramount Comedy
Paramount Comedy was a Russian-language comedy television channel launched in 2012 and later rebranded as Comedy Central.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Paramount Comedy was the original brand of a Russian-language cable and satellite television channel serving Russia and other markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The channel launched in 2012 as part of Paramount's international television operations and was subsequently known as Comedy Central (Russia). Its programming proposition centered on English-language and international comedy series, sitcoms, animated comedies, sketch and reality-comedy formats, and locally distributed versions of Paramount-owned entertainment properties. The Russian service was notable because it retained the Paramount Comedy name after most other international versions of the brand had been renamed Comedy Central. The name had historically been used for some international Comedy Central services during the late 1990s and early 2000s, but Paramount gradually standardized those channels under the Comedy Central identity. By the middle of the 2010s, Russia was among the last territories still using Paramount Comedy. Ukraine also received a Paramount Comedy service in 2017 through a collaboration with 1+1 Media Group, although the Russian and Ukrainian services were later renamed Comedy Central. The channel's catalogue included well-known American sitcoms such as Friends, Frasier, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Malcolm in the Middle, Mom, The Middle, The King of Queens and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It also carried comedy and animation from Paramount's wider portfolio, including South Park, Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, The Ren & Stimpy Show, CatDog and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Other listed programs included Broad City, Key & Peele, Reno 911!, Workaholics, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Awkward, Ridiculousness and Takeshi's Castle Indonesia. The exact schedule varied by territory and licensing availability. Paramount suspended its activities in Russia in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Broadcasting was initially expected to end on 20 April 2022, but the Russian Paramount Comedy service ultimately stopped on 28 April. Russian-language distribution of Paramount channels continued in some CIS markets and Georgia for a period. The channel ceased broadcasting in Belarus on 14 December 2022. Its website was reported to have shut down on 1 February 2023, and the Russian- and Ukrainian-language versions adopted the Comedy Central name on 1 March 2023. After the rebrand, the service continued to undergo programming and presentation changes. At the end of 2023 it stopped translating new episodes of South Park. On 1 January 2024, programming from third-party studios was removed after relevant licenses expired, along with much of the Nickelodeon animation previously carried by the network. The channel changed its design on 18 November 2024 and, according to the referenced account, closed completely on 1 January 2026. Paramount Comedy therefore represents both a historical brand identity and the predecessor name of Comedy Central's Russian-language operation rather than a currently operating standalone network.
History
Comedy Central (Russia) originated as Paramount Comedy, a Russian-language pay-television channel launched in 2012. It was part of Paramount's international television portfolio and was distributed through cable and satellite platforms in Russia, with related Russian-language availability in other CIS markets. The service was designed around comedy programming rather than general entertainment, using sitcoms, animated comedy, sketch shows and reality-comedy formats to establish a recognizable channel identity. The Paramount Comedy name had a wider international history. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was used for some international versions of Comedy Central. Paramount later retired the name in favor of Comedy Central as the global brand architecture became more standardized. Most of the earlier Paramount Comedy services were rebranded during the late 2000s and early 2010s. The Russian channel remained an exception for much longer, retaining the Paramount Comedy identity after the launch of its local service in 2012. Ukraine also received a Paramount Comedy-branded service in 2017 in cooperation with 1+1 Media Group. Its programming reflected the broader Paramount and Comedy Central ecosystem while also relying on external licensing. The schedule included major American sitcoms such as Friends, Frasier, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, The King of Queens, Malcolm in the Middle, Mom and The Middle. Comedy Central-associated and adult-oriented titles included South Park, Broad City, Key & Peele, Reno 911!, Workaholics, Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria and Ridiculousness. Animated programs associated with Nickelodeon and related Paramount properties, including Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, CatDog, The Ren & Stimpy Show and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, also appeared among the listed offerings. Scheduling and availability depended on territory, rights and translation arrangements. The Russian operation changed substantially in 2022. In mid-March, Paramount announced the suspension of its activities in Russia in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Paramount Comedy service had initially been expected to stop on 20 April, but its broadcast ended on 28 April 2022. Russian-language versions of Paramount channels continued in some CIS territories and Georgia, while the Belarusian service later ceased on 14 December 2022. The brand transition continued in 2023. The channel website shut down on 1 February, and the Russian- and Ukrainian-language versions were renamed Comedy Central on 1 March. This completed the replacement of the Paramount Comedy identity in those services, although the name remains historically associated with the Russian channel. By the end of 2023, new episodes of South Park were no longer being translated for the service. On 1 January 2024, third-party programs were removed as licenses expired, and most Nickelodeon animated programs were also withdrawn. The service received a design update on 18 November 2024. The referenced history records a final closure on 1 January 2026, making Paramount Comedy a discontinued predecessor brand within Paramount's regional comedy-channel operations.
- 2026
Channel closes
[1]The referenced history records the complete closure of the channel on 1 January 2026.
- 2024
Programming lineup is reduced
[1]Third-party programs and most Nickelodeon animated series are removed after licensing and programming changes.
- 2023
Services adopt the Comedy Central name
[1]The Russian- and Ukrainian-language services are renamed Comedy Central on 1 March.
- 2022
Russian broadcast ends
[1]Following Paramount's suspension of activities in Russia, the Russian service stops broadcasting on 28 April.
- 2022
Belarusian service ends
[1]The channel ceases broadcasting in Belarus on 14 December.
- 2017
Paramount Comedy launches in Ukraine
[1]A Ukrainian Paramount Comedy service launches in cooperation with 1+1 Media Group.
- 2014
Paramount Comedy remains one of the last services using the name
[1]After most international Paramount Comedy services had adopted the Comedy Central name, the Russian service remained under the older branding.
- 2012
Russian Paramount Comedy channel launches
[1]A Russian-language cable and satellite comedy channel launches under the Paramount Comedy name.
Products and positioning
A branded pay-television destination for comedy, combining internationally licensed sitcoms, animated series, sketch programs and comedy formats for Russian-speaking audiences.
Cable and satellite television channel · 2012
Paramount Comedy Russia
The core Russian-language television service launched in 2012. It offered a curated mix of sitcoms, animated comedies, sketch programming, reality-comedy formats and other licensed entertainment. The channel was distributed through cable and satellite platforms and served as the principal market expression of the Paramount Comedy brand in Russia before its later transition to Comedy Central.
Cable and satellite television channel · 2017
Paramount Comedy Ukraine
A Ukrainian-language Paramount Comedy service launched in 2017 through a collaboration with 1+1 Media Group. It formed part of the regional Paramount Comedy operation and was later renamed Comedy Central along with the Russian-language service.
Brand decisions
2024
Licensed programming is removedOtherBackground
Licenses for programs from third-party studios expired, and the network also changed its use of Nickelodeon animation.
Action taken
On 1 January 2024, third-party studio series and most Nickelodeon animated series were removed from the network.
Aftermath
The available programming mix became narrower before the reported final closure of the channel.
2023
Paramount Comedy services are rebranded Comedy CentralStrategyBackground
Paramount had historically been standardizing international comedy channels under the Comedy Central name.
Action taken
The Russian- and Ukrainian-language versions were renamed Comedy Central on 1 March 2023.
Aftermath
The Paramount Comedy identity was retired for those regional services.
2022
Paramount suspends Russian operationsStrategyBackground
Paramount suspended its activities in Russia in March 2022 in response to the geopolitical consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Action taken
The company stopped the Russian Paramount Comedy broadcast, which ended on 28 April 2022 rather than the initially planned 20 April date.
Aftermath
The Russian service disappeared while some Russian-language Paramount channel distribution continued in other CIS markets and Georgia.
Sources1 sources
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