Well digital Spy today has given us some info on the shows that will be on the new channel.
Quote:
The launch of a UK version of US cable channel FX remains scheduled for the first quarter of 2004, Fox International confirmed to Digital Spy on Friday.
Ahead of the launch, the channel also confirmed on Friday that it has signed programming deals with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution and Comedy Central. The new deals add to programmes already lined up for the channel from Fox.
Three main series will join the FX schedule as a result of the deals:
The Man Show
Seasons three and four of this Comedy Central show will air on FX; hosted by Jimmy Kimmel - before he moved to ABC to host that network's late-night show - and Adam Carolla, it is described as "a brazenly chauvinistic, comedic celebration of all things male." The show is Comedy Central's second-highest rating series, just behind South Park.
The Mind of the Married Man
Looking at marriage from the male perspective, this HBO show has won critical acclaim. Twenty episodes, each thirty minutes long, will air on FX - it gives a "husband’s honest look at love, life and sex in a modern marriage."
Lucky
This series was produced by Castle Rock for FX in the US, and is a dark comedy focusing on recovering gambling addict Michael "Lucky" Linkletter. Thirteen episodes, each thirty minutes long, will air on FX UK. The show follows Linkletter trying to rebuild his life while still hanging out with his compulsive gambler friends.
In case you've not guessed already by the theme of, for example, The Man Show, Jason Thorp, FX UK's Vice President of Broadcasting and Marketing, explains exactly which demographic FX UK will be targeting:
"We have been studying the UK market for quite some time and we have discovered that despite the desire of the marketing industry to segment the male audience, the reality is that the majority of men aged 25-44 fit into a broad category that we have called ‘Adultman’. Despite earning capacity, social background or marital status, ‘Adultman’ is linked by universal interests and concerns – women and having a laugh come high on that list."
Yes, Comedy Central is a channel in the USA but it is unlikely that it will come to the UK as a channel for the time being because FX has signed this deal - which could indicate a Comedy Central segment perhaps? And we also have the Paramount Comedy Channel too - which would be in direct competition with Comedy Central if it did launch.
I'm not clear on some things - is Comedy Central a channel? If so, will we get Comedy Central on Sky shortly?
Comedy Channel is a US channel, with it's best known show probably being South Park. I doubt we'll see it over here, it's been rumoured many a time tho.
The bigger problem its going to have is what programmes it plans to show, but more importantly, given its limited budget and Sky's already strong programme links with Fox, what programmes it can afford to compete with Sky to acquire rights for.
