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Logopedia
This page only shows primary logo variants.
For other related logos and images, see:
1988 (prototype) 1989–1991 1990–1991 April–June 1991 June–October 1991 October-November 1991
1988 (prototype) 1989–1991 1990–1991 April–June 1991 June–October 1991 October-November 1991
November 1991–1997 1997–2000 2000–2010 2011–2018 2018–present  
November 1991–1997 1997–2000 2000–2010 2011–2018 2018–present

Comedy Central is an American television network owned by Paramount through the MTV Entertainment Group subsidiary of its Media Networks division. Originally launched on April 1, 1991 as a merger between Time Warner's The Comedy Channel and Viacom's Ha! TV Comedy Network, the channel broadcasts comedic programming including original, licensed and syndicated series, stand-up comedy specials and feature films.

The Comedy Channel

1988 (prototype)

SVG NEEDED

1989–1991

Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Cooper Black
Launched:  November 15, 1989

On November 15, 1989 (less than 2 months before it joined forces with Warner Communications, creating Time Warner), Time-Life (which also owned HBO) launched a specialized television network called The Comedy Channel.

Ha! TV Comedy Network

1990–1991

Designer:  Noel Frankel
Lou Brooks
Fred/Alan, Inc.
Typography:  Custom (HA!)
Helvetica Light (TV Comedy Network)
Launched:  April 1, 1990

On April 1, 1990, Viacom launched Ha! TV Comedy Network in order to compete with The Comedy Channel, with a logo designed by Noel Frankel and illustrated by Lou Brooks for Fred/Alan, Inc. Similarly to its sister networks MTV, Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite (which Fred/Alan also had a hand in developing their brandings), as well as Nick Jr., the logo utilized various different backgrounds centered on the same design, usually various live-action people or animated characters. Despite only lasting for a year, many different IDs were produced (see them here).

CTV: The Comedy Network

April–June 1991

Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Futura Extra Bold Condensed
Launched:  April 1, 1991

On April 1, 1991, after two years of limited distribution, both The Comedy Channel and Ha! merged into a single channel known as CTV: The Comedy Network, a result of a partnership between Time Warner's Home Box Office, Inc. and Viacom's Hearty Ha! Ha!, LLC. Multiple variations of this logo were used for its two months.

Comedy Central

June–October 1991

Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Kabel Ultra Regular
Launched:  June 1, 1991

On June 1, 1991, the network changed its name to Comedy Central in order to prevent confusion with the Canadian television network CTV (who would incidentally become its Canadian content partner with its launch of The Comedy Network in 1997).

October-November 1991

In October 1991, Comedy Central introduced a new logo, which is a globe with three city buildings on top; this motif would be used for all of the channel's logos for the next 19 years.

November 1991–1997

Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Custom
Launched:  November 20, 1991[1]

The globe was redesigned on November 20, 1991 to better align with the network's visual identity at the time. Initially, this logo was featured on print ads and various promotional materials. It later became the network’s new on-air look on July 2, 1994, as part of a broader brand refresh created by PMcD Design. Prior to 1994, the aforementioned on-air presentation utilized a 3D-rendered version of the globe.

1997–2000

Designer:  H-Gun Labs
Typography:  Custom
Launched:  May 24, 1997

In May 24, 1997, the logo was redrawn to give it a smoother look, with the small hyphen removed from the marquee. This logo was designed by H-Gun Labs and was initially used on promos for South Park before taking effect with its series premiere on August 13, 1997.

2000–2010

Designer:  Imaginary Forces
Typography:  Traitor Bold (modified)
Launched:  October 30, 2000 (promos)

On October 30, 2000, Comedy Central unveiled its first major redesign, incorporating a "fresher" version of its logo that removed the transmitter (which was said to "communicate the 1950s broadcast era" by network management). With this rebrand, a new on-air graphics package was developed by Imaginary Forces. This logo was strangely used again in 2022 on the tags of their South Park plushies of that year.

On April 22, 2003, Viacom bought out AOL Time Warner's half of the network for $1.23 billion, ending the joint venture between the two companies and making Comedy Central a wholly-owned entity of Viacom. During that time, programming such as South Park began airing in syndication on TBS, a Warner subsidiary.

2011–present

2011–2018

Designer:  The Lab
Typography:  Brandon Grotesque
Launched:  December 9, 2010 (reveal)
January 1, 2011 (official)

On December 9, 2010, Comedy Central unveiled a new logo, nicknamed the "Comedymark", in New York, before it made its official on-air debut on New Year's Day 2011. The logo, composed of two letter "C"s inside of each other, closely resembles a copyright symbol (©), with the network name displayed in mixed positions. New York company The Lab was the design agency who worked with Comedy Central to create the new look. A new style for graphics and promos had slowly been introduced a few months earlier, featuring straight typography on clean backgrounds. This logo came in fourth place in the 2010 Brand New Awards. This logo was used again in 2020 South Park plushies.

2018–present

Designer:  Loyalkaspar
Typography:  Comedy Sans (custom-designed)
Launched:  July 29, 2018

On July 29, 2018, the "Comedymark" logo was largely modified, with the wordmark set in a new font and each word no longer being mirrored. The logo and its accompanying on-air graphics package were designed by Loyalkaspar.

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