Comedy Crosses Borders

In an unprecedented move that has the potential to propel comedy across borders in the comedy industry, the [PIAS] Entertainment Group and Levity Entertainment Group announced today they have entered into a unique partnership. Levity Entertainment Group, the comedy industry’s leading independent management and production company, and PIAS Entertainment Group, Europe’s leading independent international distributor, will work together to distribute, license and promote comedy talent on an international level.[PIAS] and Levity will join forces to promote and market comedic talent in Europe, Australia, and North America with the full resources of each company and a range of proven online and offline tactics supporting worldwide tour appearances, broadcast performances and DVD and multiplatform content releases. Levity’s proprietary E-Comic Branding digital comedy marketing service will be among the tools used to help increase comedians’ profile and financial success around the world.Levity will license 10 one-hour stand-up comedy shows to [PIAS], including Jim Breuer’s ‘Let’s Clear the Air’, Pete Correale’s ‘The Things We Do for Love’ and Gabrielle Iglesias’ ‘Hot & Fluffy’. Levity will work with [PIAS] to distribute the programming across Europe, South Africa, and Australia in 2009/2010 via multiple platforms, including TV, mobile, broadband and DVD.[PIAS] and Levity will also co-produce several one-hour specials focusing on international artists and global sales and marketing strategy. The companies will announce a roster of new artist signings after the Edinburgh Festival in August.“In a digital world, comedy translates very easily,” said Robert Hartmann, Principal, Levity Entertainment Group. “The arrangement with our friends at [PIAS] will prove that by working together we can most effectively meet the global demand for comedy and refute the conventional wisdom that comedy is somehow limited by national borders and cultural barriers.”“With its international stars and popularity, comedy is becoming the new rock ‘n’ roll,” said Leon Happe, Partner, [PIAS] Comedy. “The combined experience, knowledge, distribution networks and passion for comedy between PIAS and Levity make this a winning and unique partnership in the industry.”Levity Entertainment Group manages and produces several of the industry’s most successful comedians including Jeff Dunham (the top viewed comedian on YouTube with more than 360 million video views), Pablo Francisco, Pete Correale, Chris Titus and Jim Breuer. With more than two hundred employees and offices across Europe in Belgium, UK, Ireland, Holland, Germany, France, Spain and Australia, [PIAS] is well positioned to export the success enjoyed by Levity in the United States to worldwide audiences.Before striking the deal announced today, [PIAS] and Levity laid the groundwork for their partnership by working together to distribute and co-promote the multi-talented sensation, Jeff Dunham in advance of his first European tour. Starting from a baseline of millions of internet clip views, the companies successfully introduced Dunham to the region through a series of concerted digital and traditional marketing tactics. The joint campaign resulted in an extremely successful European introduction for the American, with 130,000 DVDs sold in three months, and more than 25,000 tickets sold for his one week, five-city tour through Europe. Confirming that the Dunham success was repeatable, the companies have teamed up on comedian Pablo Francisco’s global marketing and touring. Also buoyed by a strong digital presence, Francisco continues to sell out shows across Europe and Australia with his 2009 40-city tour.