Comedy Central Acquires Off-Net Rights To 30 ROCK

"30 Rock" will add a new address in 2011 as COMEDY CENTRAL has reached a multi-year deal with NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution to license the Emmy(R) Award-winning comedy series "30 Rock," it was announced today by Frances Manfredi, executive vice president/general sales manager, cable and non-theatrical sales for NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and David Bernath, senior vice president, program strategy & microwave programming for COMEDY CENTRAL. The all-comedy channel will launch the series with five seasons beginning in the fall of 2011.

"Pound-for-pound, '30 Rock' is one of the funniest shows on television and a perfect DNA match for our viewers," said Bernath. "This is a tremendous acquisition for COMEDY CENTRAL and we can't wait for Tina, Alec, Tracy and the rest of the gang to join our line-up in 2011."

"This sitcom fits the COMEDY CENTRAL brand perfectly and I applaud the network's vision and ability to recognize '30 Rock' is a comedy still on the rise," says NBC Universal's Manfredi. "We believe '30 Rock' will thrive in the COMEDY CENTRAL environment."

Entering its 4th season this fall on NBC, "30 Rock" is told through the comedic voice of Emmy(R) and two-time Golden Globe(R) Award-winner Tina Fey as variety show producer "Liz Lemon" and features Emmy(R) and two-time Golden Globe(R) Award-winner Alec Baldwin as top network executive "Jack Donaghy" and Tracy Morgan as "Tracy Jordan," the unpredictable star of Lemon's hit variety show, "TGS with Tracy Jordan." Rounding out the cast are Jane Krakowski as "Jenna Maroney," the co-star of "TGS"; Scott Adsit as the variety show's producer "Pete Hornberger"; Jack McBrayer as "Kenneth," the over-eager and effortlessly endearing NBC page; Judah Friedlander as "Frank," the sardonic slacker on the writing staff; Katrina Bowden as Lemon's young, flighty assistant, "Cerie"; and Keith Powell as "Toofer," the sophisticated yet sarcastic, Harvard-alum writer.

Throughout the seasons, "30 Rock" has welcomed an impressive array of guest stars, including Emmy(R)-nominated performances by Will Arnett, Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Carrie Fisher and Rip Torn, as well as Tim Conway and Elaine Stritch who garnered Emmy(R) Awards in 2008 and 2007 respectively. Other star-studded episodes have featured high-profile guest stars including Alan Alda, Jennifer Aniston, Whoopi Goldberg, John Hamm, Salma Hayek, Steve Martin, Megan Mullally, Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey and former Vice President Al Gore.

Nominated for a record 17 Emmy(R) Awards in 2008, "30 Rock" won seven times, including Outstanding Comedy Series for the second consecutive year, tying the record for most comedy Emmys(R) in a single season. In addition to its Emmy(R) accolades, "30 Rock" has also won a Golden Globe(R) for Best Television Series, a Screen Actor's Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an ensemble in a Comedy Series, two Producers Guild's Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Awards in Comedy Episodic Television, two Writers Guild Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, a WGA Award for Episodic Comedy and a Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.

"30 Rock" is produced by Broadway Video & Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios. The executive producers are Lorne Michaels ("Saturday Night Live"), Tina Fey, Marci Klein ("Saturday Night Live"), David Miner ("Human Giant") and Robert Carlock ("Friends").

About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution

NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television throughout the United States and Canada. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.

Current first-run strip syndicated programming at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution includes "Access Hollywood," "Deal or No Deal," "The Jerry Springer Show," "The Martha Stewart Show," "Maury" and "The Steve Wilkos Show." Current first-run weekly syndicated programming includes "The Chris Matthews Show," "The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo" and the off-network distribution of "30 Rock," "The Office," "Heroes," "House," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and many more series.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 95 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B) MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is www.comedycentral.com.

Photo by Walter McBride

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