Paramount Slashes Content on Comedy Central, MTV Websites and More
Following the unexpected shutdown of the MTV News website, Paramount has now taken significant steps to reduce content on the sites for several of its cable channels, seemingly as a cost-cutting measure. As of midweek, websites for Comedy Central, CMT, Paramount Network (home of Yellowstone) and TV Land have redirected users to Paramount’s streaming platform, Paramount+. Earlier in the week, MTVnews.com was deactivated, erasing two decades of stories from the internet.
A notice on the Comedy Central site states, “While episodes of most Comedy Central series are no longer available on this website, you can watch Comedy Central through your TV provider. You can also sign up for Paramount+ to watch many seasons of Comedy Central shows.” Similar messages appear on the CMT, Paramount Network, TV Land, and MTV sites (excluding MTVnews.com).
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Paramount issued a statement explaining, “As part of broader website changes across Paramount, we have introduced more streamlined versions of our sites, driving fans to Paramount+ to watch their favourite shows.”
The extensive content removal from the Comedy Central site, as highlighted by LateNighter, includes a vast archive of material from ‘The Daily Show’ and other late-night series, as well as clips from ‘South Park,’ ‘Key & Peele’ and ‘Workaholics.’ While some content is available on YouTube, it is not as easily searchable or accessible as it was on the network’s original page. For instance, the oldest video on The Daily Show’s YouTube channel dates back to 2016, whereas the show has a history spanning 20 years prior.
On Paramount+, only the two most recent seasons of ‘The Daily Show’ are available. The platform also hosts several ‘South Park’ specials and the 1999 feature film ‘Bigger, Longer and Uncut,’ though the show’s primary streaming home is on Max. Paramount+ does offer the complete series runs of ‘Key & Peele’ and ‘Workaholics.’
At the time of writing, websites for Paramount’s BET, Nickelodeon, and VH1 remain active, while MTV.com provides some episodes and clips. These website changes come in the wake of Paramount’s co-CEOs — George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins — informing employees during a town hall meeting that they are initiating a cost-cutting strategy due to declining profits.
-Sushmita Sarkar
