24/7 Comedy
 | |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States and Canada |
| Availability | International |
| Owner | iHeartMedia Premiere Networks (distribution in USA) Bell Media (distribution in Canada) |
Launch date | September 20, 2010[1] |
| Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
Official website | 247comedy.com |
24/7 Comedy was a 24-hour live, commercial-free radio format produced by iHeartMedia's Premiere Networks in the United States and by Bell Media in Canada. This satellite-driven format showcased established and emerging comedians, such as Jeff Foxworthy and Louis C.K., in a rapid-fire presentation style and was programmed by an array of comedians and comedy experts. The network targeted a 18-54 demographic range. 24/7 Comedy can still be heard on the Android/iOS app iHeartRadio, which streams 24/7 Comedy via Internet radio.
It was first conceived in April 2008 by Bill Bungeroth, who had his partner George Gimarc design the format. The first demos were cut in March 2009, and the network's first logs generated in October. 24/7 Comedy's debut on air was September 27, 2010 in Riverside, California, on KFNY,[2] and a few weeks later digitally on iHeartRadio on October 22, 2010.
The original independent radio company was purchased by Clear Channel Communications in July 2012, retaining several of the core employees, including George Gimarc, as well as Quinn Cannady, Troy Dorman, Dave Rainkin and host / comedian John Mulrooney.
24/7 Comedy frequently had unusual contests such as the Blue Balls of Christmas when the station gave away Blue Christmas Balls signed by comedians. It was one of their most popular contests. They have also sponsored the Olympics of Comedy, Chocolate February, and had J.F.K. “Jamie !*^$#+! Kennedy” host for the week of November 22, 2013. They also broadcast from comedy festivals such as South By Southwest, Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, Laugh Your Asheville Off, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival and the Akumal Comedy Festival.
Short and fast-paced comedic bits are broadcast around-the-clock which tends to change every two to four minutes. Between bits, a female voice is used to tell listeners the comedian that listeners just heard.
Every week a different comedian served as a guest host, appearing on-air at :45 every hour telling stories and introducing tracks from their favorite comics. Previous guest hosts have included Anthony Jeselnik, Bobcat Goldthwait, Brian Regan, Christian Finnegan, Emo Philips, Eugene Mirman, Gabriel Iglesias, Garfunkel & Oates, Gary Gulman, Hannibal Buress, Harland Williams, Jim Gaffigan, Joan Rivers, Kevin Nealon, Larry The Cable Guy, Pauly Shore, Ralphie May, Reggie Watts, Ron White, Todd Barry, Tom Cotter, W. Kamau Bell, Alonzo Bodden, Andy Kindler, Ari Shaffir, Aries Spears, Bobby Slayton, Bryan Callen, Carlos Mencia, Chad Daniels, Craig Shoemaker, Dan Cummins, David Huntsberger, George Wallace, Greg Warren, Jackie Kashian, Jamie Kennedy, John Caparulo, Josh Blue, Kurt Braunohler, Maz Jobrani, Mo Mandel, Myq Kaplan & Micah Sherman, Neal Brennan, Orny Adams, Rachel Feinstein, Robert Kelly & Big Jay Oakerson, Roy Wood Jr. & Ahmed Ahmed, Scott Aukerman, Shane Mauss, Sinbad, Steve Byrne & Owen Benjamin, Tig Notaro, Todd Glass, Tom Rhodes, Alex Reymundo, Alysia Wood, Baron Vaughn, Brad Williams, Chris Maddock, Christina Pazsitzky, Chuck Watkins, Collin Moulton, Dave Waite, Deon Cole, Donnell Rawlings, Erik Griffin, Godfrey, Iliza Shlesinger, Jim David, Joe Derosa, Kelly Carlin, Kerri Louise, Kurt Braunohler, Kyle Kinane, Lavell Crawford, Matt Braunger, MC Mr. Napkins & Matt Knudsen, Mike Lawrence, Moshe Kasher, Natasha & Duncan, Nick Griffin, Ophira Eisenberg, Paul Varghese, Robert Hawkins, Ryan Stout, Sean Kent, Sean Patton, Steve Hofstetter, Steve Mudflap Mcgrew, Tim Harmston, Tim Northern, Tommy Savitt, Reno Collier, Aaron Aryanpur, Andy Hendrickson, Andy Ritchie, April Macie, Christopher Kid Reid, Grant Lyon, Greg Fitzsimmons, Janine Brito, John Moses, Johnny Beehner, Jr Brow, Killer Beaz, Lee Camp, Ryan Hamilton, Tom Simmons, Tonee Bell, Tyler Boeh, Billy D. Washington, Darren Carter, Rudy Rush, Ryan Sickler, and Steve White.
As of January 2014, some of the most played comedians were Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Jeff Foxworthy, Lewis Black, Maria Bamford, Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan, Bill Engvall, Eddie Izzard, Gabriel Iglesias, Doug Benson, Larry The Cable Guy, Kathleen Madigan, John Pinette, Ron White, Craig Ferguson, Patton Oswalt, Ralphie May, Doug Stanhope, Todd Barry, Mitch Hedberg, Dennis Miller, Bill Burr, Russell Peters, Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Daniel Tosh, Dane Cook, Mike Birbiglia, Bill Hicks, Christopher Titus, Louis C.K., Jimmy Carr, Ellen DeGeneres, Emo Philips, Dana Gould and many others.
Clear Channel started phasing out the format from its stations in early 2014 as many of its stations began changing to other formats. The network officially announced it would end terrestrial broadcasts on August 3, 2014, but it will continue broadcasting online on the iHeartRadio website and app.[3] The few terrestrial affiliates remaining mostly switched over to the independently programmed "Today's Comedy," which launched concurrently with 24/7 Comedy's closure.
Astral Media introduced the network on its AM stations in Hamilton and London, Ontario in 2012—It is a rarity among Canadian radio networks in that the programming originates almost entirely from outside Canada — the longstanding Canadian content requirements do not apply to spoken-word programming (however, the stations still provide local inserts, and also air the locally produced Humble & Fred as a late night program).[4]
The station is also available though Bell Media's iHeartRadio Canada platform.
Former Affiliate(s)
United States[5]
| Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|
| WACT | 1420 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| KBSZ | 1260 | Phoenix, Arizona |
| KIKO | 97.3 | Phoenix, Arizona |
| KBFP | 800 | Bakersfield, California |
| KFNY | 1440 | Riverside, California |
| KKLF | 1700 | Richardson, Texas |
| K276FK | 103.1 | Denver, Colorado |
| K277AG | 103.3 | Beaumont, Texas |
| WHAL | 1460 | Columbus, Georgia |
| KXQZ | 1270 | Twin Falls, Idaho |
| WLRO | 1210 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| WTGM | 960 | Salisbury, Maryland |
| WFNL | 570 | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| KEBC | 1560 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| KTHH | 990 | Albany, Oregon |
Notes:
- ¹ Indicates a Daytimer radio station.
Canada
| Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|
| CFVP² | 6030 | Calgary, Alberta |
| CHAM | 820 | Hamilton, Ontario |
| CKMX | 1060 | Calgary, Alberta |
Notes:
- ² Indicates a shortwave station, repeating CKMX Calgary.
References
- ^ 24/7 Comedy Radio Launches - All Access Music Group
- ^ 24/7 Comedy Radio Debuts On KFNY-A/Riverside, CA - All Access Music Group
- ^ Today's Comedy To Continue For Terrestrial After 24/7 Comedy Goes Digital-Only. AllAccess. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ "Humble and Fred land new radio gig at Newstalk 1010". Toronto Star, January 11, 2013.
- ^ "24/7 Comedy - All Stations". Archived from the original on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2013-11-21.