ABC TV has unveiled a serious comedy overhaul, rebranding ABC2 to ABC Comedy, with Tom Ballard scoring one of the channel's flagship programs.
The big changes will roll out from December 4, with ABC Director of Television David Anderson telling HuffPost Australia the channel “needed an identity and direction so it meant something”.
Anderson also said the rebranding reflects a drastic change in viewing habits and will give a space for emerging talent.
"What ABC Comedy does do is provide a platform for new talent that hasn't emerged yet,” Anderson said.
"There's a great opportunity to reflect what is contemporary Australia through comedy.
“There's great talent coming through that reflects the cultural diversity of our community".
Tonightly With Tom Ballard will air weeknights at 9pm and feature interviews, sketches, reviews, starring Ballard alongside Greta Lee-Jackson, Greg Larsen and Bridie Connell, while new series of Gruen and The Weekly With Charlie Pickering will air alongside international shows such as Inside Amy Schumer and Catastrophe.
As noted by HuffPost, ABC Comedy will celebrate emerging talent on launch day in full force, premiering six new short-form series on the channel, including Indigenous comedy Aussie Rangers, Neel Kolhatkar's Virgin Bush, and Other People's Problems, which comes from the producers of The Dressmaker.
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