C4's new comedy experiment

Channel 4 is planning a broadband channel to encourage up-and-coming comedians to distribute their work on the Internet.

The online channel 4Laughs will allow comics to upload sketches and routines of up to ten minutes in length, which can then be viewed and discussed by other users of the site.

Channel 4 say the channel, set to launch in the spring, will offer a ‘virtual comedy festival’ of unique, user-generated content.

It follows on from the success of the broadcaster's FourDocs broadband channel, showcasing four-minute documentaries.

However, with comedians’ greatest fear being the theft of jokes and ideas, the station may encounter more difficulty in persuading aspiring acts to commit their work to free distribution over the internet.

The incentive is that C4 executives will be taking a look at the submitted work, and may offer those submitting the most popular clips a commission to create more online content.

Anddy Grumbridge, managing editor of Channel 4 new media, said: 'The success of FourDocs convinced us that an appetite exists for quality websites populated with user-generated content, and we wanted to extend this idea further.

'Comedy is the perfect genre for user-generated content. Ultimately we hope that 4Laughs will become a trusted and valued entertainment site which users can visit confident they’ll be able to find high quality, unique comedy clips.'

Published: 17 Nov 2005