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Laff is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by Laff Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Katz Broadcasting. The network specializes in comedy programming, featuring a mix of feature films and archived sitcoms, and is targeted at adults between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.

The network, which transmits in 480i standard definition, is available in many media markets via the digital subchannels of broadcast television stations and on the digital tiers of select cable providers through a local affiliate of the network.

Original, Katz sold the network to affiliated TV stations via ad split but by October 2015 had moved to a carriage fees in exchange for the network get the ad inventory due to greater inventory with stations adding a third or fourth subchannel. Bounce used direct response advertising as a meter of viewers before switching to Neilsen rating C-3 a few year before 2015.

History

Laff's launch was announced by Katz Broadcasting in January 2015 as having a scheduled launch date of April 15, 2015, which coincides with Tax Day in the United States, when tax returns are due and, as Broadcasting & Cable writer Jon Lafayette noted in an article on Laff's launch, "people will need something to make them smile."

Katz announced that television stations owned by ABC Owned Television Stations and 13 E. W. Scripps Company would serve as the network's charter affiliates. On March 13, 2015, Katz Broadcasting announced an affiliation deal with the Cox Media Group to carry Laff on the subchannels of seven of its stations expanding its initial reach to 47% of the country. The following week on March 20, as part of a multi-network affiliation agreement with Katz, the Meredith Corporation announced that it would carry the network on two of its stations.

On February 13, 2015, Laff acquired the syndication rights to five sitcoms. Laff followed that deal with three for film licensing with Walt Disney Studios, Miramax and Sony Pictures Television by March 17.

Programming

Template:Multicol Laff's comedy-centered programming consists of a mix of theatrically released feature films, as well as off-network sitcoms. Laff would set itself apart from its multicast competitors by carrying more contemporary programming content, in contrast to the reruns of series from the 1980s and earlier commonly found on other over-the-air networks which rely on acquired content). The network also provide additional content via the network's website and mobile app.

Movies

Laff's program schedule will have access to approximately 250 titles comedic films from the libraries of three film studios by virtue of multi-year program licensing agreements with Walt Disney Studios, Miramax and Sony Pictures Entertainment (distributed by Sony Pictures Television).

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Television series

In addition to films, much of Laff's programming lineup consists of reruns of situation comedies of over 800 episodes.

Current series

Laff's programming inventory will include the following confirmed off-network programs:

• The Drew Carey Show
• Ellen
• Empty Nest
• Grace Under Fire
• Night Court
• Spin City (Paramount Television)

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Affiliates

As of December 10, 2015, Laff has current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations in 61 media markets encompassing 21 states (including stations in the top 13 markets), covering 63% of the United States.

Charter affiliates included all 8 ABC Owned Television Stations and 13 13 E. W. Scripps Company stations. The two initial deals gave Laff affiliate clearances in 35% of all U.S. markets, and 13 of the 30 largest television markets (including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Detroit and Houston).

The network immediately sought carriage on the digital subchannels of television stations owned by other broadcasting companies. On March 13, 2015, Katz Broadcasting announced an affiliation deal with the Cox Media Group to carry Laff on seven of its stations (including WSB-TV in Atlanta and WFXT in Boston), expanding its initial reach to 47% of the country; the following week on March 20, as part of a multi-network affiliation agreement with Katz, the Meredith Corporation announced that it would carry the network on its stations in Portland, Oregon (KPTV) and Hartford (WFSB).

List of affiliates

References

1. Downey, Kevin (18 May 2015). "Scripps in Multi-Net Deal For Katz Diginets". tvnewscheck.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015. Laff in 64 million households/55%.
2. ^ Robert Channick (January 19, 2015). "Laff comedy network to launch on WLS-Ch.7 digital subchannel". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
3. ^ Jessell, Harry A. (October 13, 2015). "OTA The Bedrock of Katz's Growing Diginets". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
4. ^ Jon Lafayette (January 18, 2015). "Exclusive: Comedy Multicast Net Launching on ABC, Scripps". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
5. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 18, 2015). "ABC Sticks with Live Well Digital Channel, Adds Comedy Net". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
6. ^ Pergament, Alan (January 20, 2015). "Ch.7 to add comedy network called LAFF in mid-April on sub-channel". Talkin' TV. Buffalo News. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
7. ^ Jon Lafayette (March 13, 2015). "Cox Gets Joke And Gives Viewers LAFF". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media.
8. ^ "Meredith To Add Three Katz Diginets". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. March 20, 2015.
9. Jon Lafayette (March 20, 2015). "Meredith To Carry Grit, Escape, LAFF Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
10. ^ "LAFF Comedy Diginet Lands Five Sitcoms". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. February 13, 2015.
11. ^ Jon Lafayette (March 17, 2015). "LAFF Makes Rights Deals to Air 250 Movie Comedies". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
12. David Bloom (January 18, 2015). "LAFF Comedy Broadcast Network To Launch April 15 in 21 Markets". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
13. "LAFF Announces First Film Licensing Agreements". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. March 17, 2015.
14. "Laff Diginet Rolls Out On Multiple Platforms". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. April 15, 2015.
15. ^ "Stations for Network - Laff". RabbitEars. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
16. Jon Lafayette (March 20, 2015). "Meredith To Carry Grit, Escape, LAFF Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
17. Rodney Ho (March 17, 2015). "WSB-TV HD channel picks up Atlanta-based LAFF comedy channel". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
18. Alan Pergament (April 30, 2015). "LAFF and Escape arrive; DIY's "American Rehab: Buffalo" may arrive soon". The Buffalo News. BH Media Group, LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
19. Alan Pergament (April 17, 2015). "New comedy network premiere delayed; WGR's Capaccio replaces Buscaglia". The Buffalo News. BH Media Group, LLC. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
20. Gary Dinges (November 16, 2015). "Austin viewers get 2 new over-the-air TV networks". Austin American-Statesman.

External links

• Official website

• Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 10, 2015
• 2015 establishments in the United States
• American television networks
• Television channels and stations established in 2015
• Comedy television networks