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Laff (TV network): Difference between revisions

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| headquarters = [[Atlanta, Georgia]]
| picture_format = [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]) [[16:9]] [[widescreen]]
| owner = [[Katz Broadcasting|Katz Broadcasting, LLC]]<br>([[E. W. Scripps Company]])
| parent = Laff[[Scripps MediaNetworks|Scripps Networks, LLC]]
| key_people = {{ubl|Jonathan Katz|(president/[[chief executive officer|CEO]],|Katz Broadcasting)}}
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2015|4|15}}
| affiliates = [[List of Laff affiliates|see list]]
| website = {{URL|laff.com|Laff.com}}
| online_serv_1 = [[Dish Network|Dish]]/[[Sling TV]]
| online_chan_1 = Channel 237
}}
 
'''Laff''' (legal name: '''Laff Media, [[Limited liability company|LLC]]''') is an American [[digital subchannel|digital multicast]] [[television network]] headquartered in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] and is owned by the [[KatzScripps BroadcastingNetworks]] subsidiary of the [[E. W. Scripps Company]]. The network specializes in [[comedy]] programming, featuring mainly [[sitcom]]s from the 1990s through the 2020s.<ref name=ct/>
 
{{TOC limit|2}}
 
==History==
Laff's launch was announced by [[Katz Broadcasting]] in January 2015 as having a scheduled launch date of {{dts|2015|04|15}}, coinciding with [[Tax Day]] in the [[United States]]; the explanation by Katz is that people needed "something to laugh to" on what they deemed one of the most stressful days of the year. The network launched at Noon that day; the first program was the film ''[[My Mom's New Boyfriend]]''.<ref name="bc0">{{cite news |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=January 18, 2015 |title=Exclusive: Comedy Multicast Net Launching on ABC, Scripps |periodical=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |publisher=[[NewBay Media]] |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/exclusive-comedy-multicast-net-launching-abc-scripps/137199 |access-date=January 28, 2015 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121000314/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/exclusive-comedy-multicast-net-launching-abc-scripps/137199 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
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; the former serving as a replacement for the standard definition feed of the [[Localish|Live Well Network]], which with Laff's announcement also began to roll-back to only being carried by ABCOTS stations.<ref name="ABCSticksLWN">{{cite news|last1=Littleton|first1=Cynthia|title=ABC Sticks with Live Well Digital Channel, Adds Comedy Net|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/abc-sticks-with-live-well-digital-channel-adds-comedy-net-1201408301/|access-date=January 28, 2015|work=Variety|date=January 18, 2015|archive-date=January 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122225649/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/abc-sticks-with-live-well-digital-channel-adds-comedy-net-1201408301/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=bn>{{cite news|last1=Pergament|first1=Alan|title=Ch.7 to add comedy network called LAFF in mid-April on sub-channel|url=http://talkintv.buffalonews.com/2015/01/20/ch-7-add-comedy-network-called-Laff-Mid-April-sub-channel/|access-date=January 28, 2015|work=Talkin' TV|publisher=Buffalo News|date=January 20, 2015|archive-date=January 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125003127/http://talkintv.buffalonews.com/2015/01/20/ch-7-add-comedy-network-called-laff-mid-april-sub-channel/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BC03132015">{{cite web |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=March 13, 2015 |title=Cox Gets Joke And Gives Viewers LAFF |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/exclusive-cox-gets-joke-and-gives-viewers-laff/138771 |publisher=NewBay Media |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=March 14, 2015 |archive-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315072602/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/exclusive-cox-gets-joke-and-gives-viewers-laff/138771 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=TVNewsCheck03202015>{{cite news|title=Meredith To Add Three Katz Diginets|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/83908/Meredith-to-add-three-katz-diginets|website=TVNewsCheck|publisherdate=NewsCheckMarch Media20, 2015|access-date=MarchNovember 2024, 2020|archive-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525012629/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/83908/meredith-to-add-three-katz-diginets|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jon Lafayette">{{cite news|title=Meredith To Carry Grit, Escape, LAFF Networks|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/meredith-carry-grit-escape-laff-networks/138986|author=Jon Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=March 20, 2015|access-date=April 14, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402102540/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/meredith-carry-grit-escape-laff-networks/138986|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On February 13, 2015, Laff acquired the [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] rights to five sitcoms.<ref name=tnc0>{{cite news|title=LAFF Comedy Diginet Lands Five Sitcoms|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/82990/laff-comedy-diginet-lands-five-sitcoms|website=TVNewsCheck|publisherdate=NewsCheckFebruary Media13, 2015|access-date=February 1316, 2015|archive-date=February 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216154641/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/82990/laff-comedy-diginet-lands-five-sitcoms|url-status=live}}</ref> Laff followed that deal for film licensing with [[Disney–ABC Domestic Television]], [[Miramax]], and [[Sony Pictures Television]] by March 17.<ref name=bc1>{{cite news|title=LAFF Makes Rights Deals to Air 250 Movie Comedies|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/laff-makes-rights-deals-air-250-movie-comedies/138853|author=Jon Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=March 17, 2015|access-date=April 14, 2015|archive-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416135329/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/laff-makes-rights-deals-air-250-movie-comedies/138853|url-status=live}}</ref> Laff made a multi-year deal for five sitcoms with [[The Carsey-Werner Company|Carsey-Werner Productions]] in April 2016.<ref name="bc4">{{cite news |last1=Lafayette |first1=Jon |title=LAFF Grabs Top Sitcoms in Carsey-Werner Deal |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/laff-grabs-top-sitcoms-Carsey-Werner-deal-155312 |access-date=September 7, 2018 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=April 7, 2016 |language=en-us |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907183214/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/laff-grabs-top-sitcoms-carsey-werner-deal-155312 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Roseanne]]'' reruns were removed on May 29, 2018, after [[Roseanne Barr]] was fired from the show by ABC (which then continued on as ''[[The Conners]]''); both decisions were based on [[Roseanne Barr#Valerie Jarrett tweetstweet and Roseanne cancellation|a Roseanne Barr tweet considered racist]].<ref name="dl0">{{cite news |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='Roseanne' Dropped From Laff Schedule; "Disgusted" By Barr's Racist Comments |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/Roseanneroseanne-dropped-laff-schedule-Roseanneroseanne-Barrbarr-comments-1202399508/ |access-date=June 22, 2018 |work=Deadline |date=29 May 2018 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622220346/https://deadline.com/2018/05/roseanne-dropped-laff-schedule-roseanne-barr-comments-1202399508/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
A list of 2019 [[Nielsen Media Research|Nielsen]] ratings published by ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' indicated that Laff averaged 223,000 viewers in prime time, down 5% from the 2018 average.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019's Winners and Losers |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/network-ratings-top-channels-Fox-News-ESPN-CNN-CBS-NBC-ABC-1203440870/ |access-date=March 6, 2020 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=26 Dec 2019 |archive-date=6 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106110035/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/network-ratings-top-channels-fox-news-espn-cnn-cbs-nbc-abc-1203440870/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
The network moved off [[ABC Owned Television Stations]] at the beginning of 2021, in favor of new carriage on Scripps's recently acquired [[Ion Media]] stations in place of the now-defunct [[Qubo]], [[Ion Plus]] and Ion Shop networks.<ref>{{citeCite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=2021-01-14 |title=Scripps Moving Multicast Networks onto Ion TV Stations |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/scripps-moving-multicast-networks-onto-ion-tv-stations |website=TVTechnology title|language=Scrippsen Moving Multicast Networks|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114110509/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/scripps-moving-multicast-networks-onto Ion TV Stations-ion-tv-stations | archive-date=14 JanuaryJan 202114, 2024 }}</ref>
 
In July 2023, the managing company of Laff announced aan [[Over-the-top media service|over-the-top]] streaming channel counterpart of Laff, called Laff More.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=2023-07-17 |title=Scripps Launching Streaming Court TV and Laff Channels |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/scripps-launching-streaming-court-tv-and-laff-channels |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=Broadcasting Cable |language=en |publisher=Next TV |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827014200/https://www.nexttv.com/news/scripps-launching-streaming-court-tv-and-laff-channels |archive-date=2023-08-27 }}</ref>
 
==Programming==
Laff provides comedy programming to owned-and-operated and affiliated stations every day from 6:00&nbsp;a.m. to 3:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern Time, with paid programming filling the remaining vacated hours. Laff's schedule mainly consists of 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s [[broadcast syndication|off-network]] sitcoms.<ref name="ct">{{cite news |last=Channick |first=Robert |date=January 19, 2015 |title=Laff comedy network to launch on WLS-Ch.7 digital subchannel |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-laff-digital-network-wls-0120-biz-20150119-story.html |access-date=January 28, 2015 |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127120130/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-laff-digital-network-wls-0120-biz-20150119-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ABCSticksLWN"/> On September 1, 2021, [[Nexstar Media Group|Nexstar]] launched a direct competitor to Laff, [[Rewind TV]], and the latter network replaced Laff on Nexstar stations (or will in the upcoming months if not immediately possible due to contractual obligations).
 
===Movies===
Laff carries three to four comedic flimsfilms throughout its weekend schedule. Laff also carries one movie throughout during early Monday through Friday Mornings.
 
===Current programming===
*''[[That '70s Show]]''
*''[[According to Jim]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/laff-to-launch-according-to-jim-in-access|title=Laff to Launch 'According to Jim' in Access|last=Albiniak|first=Paige|website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=March 1, 2019|publisher=Next TV|language=en-us|access-date=2019-04-18|archive-date=2019-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418194834/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/laff-to-launch-according-to-jim-in-access|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[ALF (TV series)|ALF]]''
*''[[Bob Hearts Abishola]]''
*''[[Funniest Pets & People]]'' (also aired on [[Qubo]] until it ceased operations on February 28, 2021)
*''[[EverybodyThe Hates ChrisConners]]''
*''[[Funniest Pets & People]]'' (also aired on [[Qubo]] until it ceased operations on February 28, 2021. Also on Laff More.)
*''[[Grounded for Life]]''<ref name="bc4" />
*''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Laff |title=Laff Lands Home Improvement in Multi-Year Licensing Agreement With The Disney/ABC Television Group, To Debut Hit Comedy This Fall |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laff-lands-home-improvement-in-multi-year-licensing-agreement-with-the-disneyabc-television-group-to-debut-hit-comedy-this-fall-300610132.html |date=March 7, 2018 |website=PR Newswire |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116033333/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laff-lands-home-improvement-in-multi-year-licensing-agreement-with-the-disneyabc-television-group-to-debut-hit-comedy-this-fall-300610132.html |archive-date= Nov 16, 2023 }}</ref>
*''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''<ref name=bc1 />
*''[[Just for Laughs: Gags]]''
*''[[Last Man Standing (American TV series)|Last Man Standing]]''
*''Saturday Morning LaffBacks''
*''[[Man with a Plan (TV series)|Man with a Plan]]''
*''World's Funniest Videos: Top 10 Countdown''<ref name=bc1 />
*''[[That '70s Show]]''
 
===Former programming===
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*''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]''<ref name="dl0" />
*''[[Empty Nest]]''<ref name="dl0" />
*''[[Everybody Hates Chris]]''
*''[[Grace Under Fire]]''<ref name="dl0" />
*''[[How I Met Your Mother]]''<ref name=bc1 />
*''[[Life’sLife's Funniest Moments]]''
*''[[The Millers]]''
*''[[Night Court]]''<ref name=bc1 />
*''[[The Odd Couple (2015 TV series)]]''
*''[[Roseanne]]''<ref name="dl0" />
*''Saturday Morning LaffBacks''
*''[[Spin City]]''<ref name=bc1 />
*''[[The Bernie Mac Show]]''<ref name=bc1 />
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== Affiliates ==
{{main|List of Laff affiliates}}
{{As of|2022|07|20}}, Laff has 425 current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations in 48 states, plus the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]], covering 91.3% of the United States.<ref name="AffiliatesforLaff">{{cite web|title=Stations for Network - Laff|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=network_search&network=Laff|website=[[RabbitEars]]|access-date=July 20, 2022|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129001900/https://rabbitears.info/search.php?request=network_search&network=Laff|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==References==